3. The rest of the AFC West is vulnerable
While it didn't quite work out for the Chargers this season, there is still reason to be optimistic about the future in the AFC West. For the first time in a long time, there was real vulnerability in the division that may open the door as early as 2024 for the Bolts.
The Kansas City Chiefs could still get hot and make a run in the playoffs but they did not look like the same dominant Chiefs team. Travis Kelce is getting old (by football standards) and is not the same weapon that he once was. Add that with a defense that got worse as the season went along with a bad wide receiver room and the Chiefs are beatable.
Knowing the Chiefs they will hit a home run in the draft and select some superstar wide receiver but if things continue down this path, the Chargers absolutely can put together an offseason that makes them good enough to beat the Chiefs in 2024.
The other two teams in the division are in worse spots for 2024 despite having better records than the Chargers. Denver doesn't have a quarterback and is going to have to take a massive cap hit by getting rid of Russell Wilson. Sure, they could draft someone, but they are outside the range of taking the top quarterbacks in the draft.
The same can be said for the Las Vegas Raiders. Is Aidan O'Connell really the long-term answer at quarterback? And is Davante Adams willing to stick around if the Raiders cannot bring in a star quarterback to throw him passes?
This isn't to say that these two teams will be horrible next year. But the division is vulnerable and as it stands right now, it might be wide open in 2024. That has not been the case in recent years and the Chargers can capitalize with a strong offseason.