The Los Angeles Chargers, for the most part, were able to hang onto their most vital talent this offseason— or at least replenish the depth they lost in free agency.
Odafe Oweh walked to the Washington Commanders on a four-year, $96 million deal, but the selection of Akheem Mesidor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft should go a long way toward replacing his production. Benjamin St-Juste signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, but the current trio of Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still should be able to compensate for the loss of his snaps.
Even Da'Shawn Hand and Otito Ogbonnia, the pair of rotational defensive linemen that departed in free agency, were ostensibly replaced by the signing of Dalvin Tomlinson and the selection of Nick Barrett in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
But the departures of Hand and Ogbonnia, specifically, have left room for an under-the-radar battle in training camp. As D-line coach Mike Elston plans to implement a more versatile scheme, positioning players differently along the line in order to maximize disruption, the Chargers defense will need every tool they can get their hands on.
The door is open, therefore, for both Jamaree Caldwell and Justin Eboigbe to earn larger roles this offseason.
Chargers will look toward Jamaree Caldwell and Justin Eboigbe to take steps forward in 2026
With the inconsistencies of the Chargers' run defense in 2025, a certain degree of change was necessary. The additions of Tomlinson and Barrett should provide that.
At 335 lbs, Tomlinson should provide a more sizable and reliable run-stopping presence on the interior. But he'll be truly maximized by Elston and Chris O'Leary's versatile interior scheme. Tomlinson had ample experience moving around the defensive line during the early years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. Barrett also provides a degree of versatility, and he'll likely play an integral role on the defensive front in 2026.
But with versatility comes the need for differentiation. This is where Caldwell and Eboigbe come in.
Caldwell played 48% of the team's defensive snaps as a rookie, posting 31 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, and one QB hit. Eboigbe, for his part, played 40% of the team's defensive snaps last season— a sizable jump from the 7% he saw during his rookie campaign in 2024.
Assuming Barrett doesn't carve out an immediate role as a starter, both Caldwell and Eboigbe will have a serious chance to start in five-man looks. Although Caldwell's production was somewhat limited last year, he was highly effective when lined up on the outside both at college and during his rookie campaign with the Chargers. Eboigbe, meanwhile, was lined up almost entirely as a defensive tackle over the past two seasons.
The typical four-man front in the nickel/dime looks that will maximize Derwin James will likely not include Caldwell, Eboigbe, or Nick Barrett, instead turning to Tomlinson and Teair Tart on the interior. Both Tuli Tuipulotu and Mesidor have the ability to slot inside as well when O'Leary sees fit.
But as Elston begins his campaign to throw as many looks at opposing offenses as possible, both Caldwell and Eboigbe will play even more important rotational roles than they did in 2025. Although Los Angeles won't truly evaluate any position battles until training camp, the stage is set for both to have a real shot at carving out a significant snap share when the team reconvenes in late July.
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