The LA Chargers' main focus as the calendar turns to 2025 is to secure a spot in the NFL Playoffs and go on a deeper run than anyone expected this season. A Super Bowl appearance seems unlikely but anything is possible once the dance starts, especially with head coach Jim Harbaugh.
While Harbaugh and the team focus on the playoffs, though, the front office should be looking ahead to what might be a busy offseason. The 2024 season was always meant to be a restart season under Harbaugh with the future being the real opportunity to make a splash with more resources available to general manager Joe Hortiz.
Hortiz has built the foundation, now he needs to build on top of it with over $70 million in cap space this upcoming offseason. This freedom opens many doors for the Chargers, including a trade for a superstar wide receiver if it becomes feasible.
One name that is now on Chargers fans' radar is none other than Garrett Wilson. Wilson's relationship with the New York Jets has seemingly grown worse as the season has gone along with the star wideout refusing to mince his words after yet another Jets loss this past Sunday.
This rocky relationship, and Wilson's willingness to be public about his unhappiness, has kickstarted trade rumors before the offseason even begins. All of this should be music to the Chargers' ears.
Jets drama makes Garrett Wilson a perfect potential trade target for the Chargers
Of course, there is always the possibility that the relationship is mended and Wilson stays in New York. But if the Jets are going to reboot after 2024, with the team already having Davante Adams on the roster, it would not be the most surprising thing to see the two sides part ways.
New York could get a conditional first-round pick for Wilson and may favor that over trying to fix a rocky relationship that may end after his rookie deal anyway. If that truly is the Jets' prerogative then the Chargers must be aggressive in making a deal happen.
There are few ways for the Chargers to add a true WR1 next offseason. If the team strikes out on Tee Higgins then the next option is hoping to get lucky with a later pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is way easier said than done.
With Wilson, the Chargers could trade for someone with legitimate franchise WR upside who would fit perfectly alongside Ladd McConkey. Suddenly, the Chargers would go from having one of the worst supporting cast of weapons to having one of the best young duos in the sport.
Trading a first-round pick for Wilson should not be a dealbreaker, either. It would absolutely be worth it for the Chargers to trade a pick in the 20s for a franchise receiver, even if it means missing out on one of the exciting tight ends in this draft or defensive help.
Wilson is still under his rookie contract salary in 2025, so it would not have a big impact on the Chargers' cap space to add more help next season. The Chargers then have the means to give Wilson a franchise WR extension in 2026 as the Bolts currently have the second-lowest active cap spending for the 2026 season.
This will change with any multi-year contracts that are signed in 2025 as well as the upcoming draft class, but as it stands right now the Chargers have over $173 million in projected cap space in 2026. More than enough to afford Wilson.