The Los Angeles Chargers, for the most part, have their starters set for 2026. On the whole, there's very little room for players entering OTAs to displace the pieces at the top of the Chargers' depth chart.
But among the backups and depth pieces, there will certainly be some shuffling. Mike McDaniel will need to determine a tentative hierarchy for the receiving core between now and the start of the season. They will also need to figure out how to build out their offensive line, with 14 linemen currently on the roster and likely only nine or 10 roster spots to work with. The most intriguing battle, however, could come from the outside linebacker room.
With the additions of Akheem Mesidor and Nadame Tucker, 2024 fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard will need to prove he still belongs on the roster. The urgency might seem premature, but after a disappointing rookie campaign, a UDFA like Tucker certainly has the chance to outwork him in camp.
Veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack, however, believes Kennard is entering OTAs with the necessary mentality. He was quoted as saying so in Daniel Popper's recent piece for The Athletic:
“There’s a hunger there. I can just tell. The level of focus and detail.” Khalil Mack via The Athletic
Popper highlights it as "the most positive development [he's] heard on Kennard this offseason".
Kyle Kennard has his work cut out for him in OTAs
While Tucker was a popular draft target for the Chargers in the pre-draft process as a result of his history with new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary, the preferred outcome for Los Angeles is likely that Kennard finds his stride in Year 2.
His rookie campaign was disappointing, to say the least. He came into the NFL with high expectations, having finished his college career with an 11.5-sack season at South Carolina. But injuries derailed him virtually from the start of training camp. He ultimately was a non-factor in 2025, appearing in just five games and posting two tackles and zero sacks.
But the athletic traits and the slipperiness he needs to be a depth presence in the outside linebacker room are certainly there.
If you're not a top draft pick, though, patience in the NFL can be minimal. If the Chargers feel that Tucker can give them more production in 2026, they likely wouldn't have major qualms about moving off of a Day 2 pick after just one season. Kennard will also be competing with veteran Bud Dupree for a spot on the roster, who still presents a viable run-defending presence even at this point in his career.
Kennard still has potential, but he needs to enter OTAs and training camp with a serious sense of urgency. Mack, as a eight-year veteran, knows exactly what that looks like. His thoughts on Kennard are therefore a major endorsement for the sophomore's chances to prove himself to the coaching staff this offseason.
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