The first NFL Draft under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz went pretty well for the LA Chargers. While the team surprised the fanbase by taking Joe Alt with the fifth pick (not taking a receiver or moving down), the Bolts more than made up for it throughout the rest of the draft.
Los Angeles brought in three starting-caliber players in the first three rounds of the draft. That is not easy to do. Alt has all the makings of being a future Pro Bowler, Ladd McConkey should be an extremely productive WR as early as 2024 (even if he isn't a traditional WR1) and Junior Colson should play an important role in Jesse Minter's defense in his rookie year.
The Chargers then bolstered the depth of the roster with the team's six selections on the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft. To continue bolstering that depth, the Chargers are naturally going to bring in undrafted free agents (UDFAs) to compete for roster spots.
Every year there are usually 1-2 UDFAs that stand out during training camp and the preseason to make the 53-man roster. They may not be drafted, but they are important. Here is everyone the Chargers have signed to compete for a roster spot.
List of Chargers undrafted free agent signings
This article will be updated live as news breaks of Chargers UDFA signings.
Zach Heins, TE, South Dakota State
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Chargers have signed is tight end Zach Heins. Chargers fans were surprised when the team did not draft a tight end at all in the 2024 NFL Draft, so it only makes sense that a tight end is the first UDFA move.
Heins is a monster (six-seven) who will fit in nicely with Jim Harbaugh because of his tenacity at the line of scrimmage. His size can make him a red-zone target, making him a better-blocking Donald Parham with a lower pass-catching ceiling.
Michael Mason, DL, Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina's Michael Mason will also be joining the Chargers to compete for a roster spot. One of the most important areas of the roster to continue to add to is the defensive line and the Chargers are doing just that.
Mason was not ranked on the consensus big board, so there must be something in his game that Harbaugh and Co. see. He is not a favorite to make a roster spot, but anyone is in the hunt.
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, LB, Ole Miss
The 492nd-ranked player on the consensus big board will have a chance to make an NFL roster with the Chargers. Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste has 16 sacks from the linebacker position in his last three college seasons to go with 157 total tackles.
Jean-Baptiste will have to prove to special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken that he can impact that side of the ball to get a roster spot.
Willis Patrick, IOL, TCU
Willis Patrick is a big one for the Chargers as he is a versatile offensive lineman who is coming from a premier college program (that Harbaugh is familiar with from the College Football Playoffs).
Patrick was actually signed as a priority free agent, not an undrafted free agent, which means that multiple teams were trying to sign him for his services but he chose to join the Chargers. Maybe those teams should have used a draft pick on him. This also means that he might have a leg up when it comes to making the roster over other UDFAs.
Jaylen Johnson, WR, ECU
After tripling down at wide receiver in the draft itself the Chargers added another wide receiver. East Carolina's Jaylen Johnson has officially signed with the team as a UDFA to officially compete for a roster spot.
The six-foot-two wideout finished last season with 45 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
Savion Jackson, DL, NC State
The Chargers added another defensive lineman that will be fighting for a roster spot in Savion Jackson. Jackson had a top-30 visit with the team before and he has one of the best chances of making the roster.
Jackson would have likely been a definite draft pick if he did not deal with injuries in his collegiate career, so the Chargers may have gotten a legitimate backend roster player out of this UDFA signing.
Akeem Dent, DB, Florida State
Florida State defensive back Akeem Dent will be joining Jesse Minter's defense looking to get a job and play a role next season. This is the kind of athletic defensive back with great traits that Brandon Staley would have wasted a draft pick on.
Jaelen Gill, WR, Fresno State
The Chargers are bringing in another wide receiver to compete in camp. It is beyond obvious that the Bolts are looking for an infusion of youth in the WR room however they can get it.
Gill played six years of college football, starting at Ohio State before going to Boston College and then Fresno State. Last season he finished with 49 receptions for 516 yards and six touchdowns.
Luke Benson, TE, Georgia Tech
The Chargers are not stopping with one tight end UDFA but Luke Benson is going to have an uphill climb to not just make the roster, but make it over Zach Heins.
Tyler McLellan, OL, Campbell
For the second year in a row, the Chargers are going to bring in a Campbell player as an UDFA. Last year, it was Brevin Allen who signed as an UDFA and got playing time with the team during the season. This new regime is going back to old tricks.
Thomas Harper, DB, Notre Dame
Joe Alt must have put in a good word for Thomas Harper, who is joining the Chargers for a chance to make the 53-man roster. Harper ranked 432nd on the consensus big board.