The Chargers will be faced with tough decisions at November 10th's 2026 NFL trade deadline. Currently, Los Angeles is 0-6. By the time the trade deadline rolls around, they'll either be 2-6, 1-7, or 0-8. In general, it's a far cry from where the Jim Harbaugh/Joe Hortiz/Mike McDaniel brain trust expected to be by this point.
For now, the Chargers are reportedly not taking trade offers. That was reported by The Ringer's Tom Pelissero last week. Perhaps it's part of an effort for Hortiz to save face (and maybe his job). But as the Chargers' season continues to slip away, teams will attempt to call them to see if they change their mind.
Could there be other Chargers on the block other than the ones listed? Possibly. But the list is at least a good template to work off of.
Trade packages that the Chargers could realistically get back for their deadline seller candidates
Let's go through the 10 players that were listed in Pelissero's report as trade candidates:
EDGE Khalil Mack
Mack surged from Weeks 2 through 4 with 3 sacks and 12 pressures. He has 16 pressures on the season with a 75.2 PFF Defense grade. The veteran EDGE defender is still playing at a high level even if he no longer is a superstar. He can still defend the run and get to the quarterback fairly well. Teams that need EDGE help will be interested.
But Mack is 35. The Chargers have to be realistic about what they can get back here. The Athletic's Jonathan Jones said that league sources valued Mack at about a fifth-round pick. If the Chargers can create a true bidding war between teams, perhaps they can squeak out a fourth. But that seems to be about where his trade value as an expiring contract is. Mack could also retire at the end of the season—so there's obviously an incentive for the Chargers to get something back if he isn't returning for 2027.
Verdict: 4th or 5th-round pick
RB Kimani Vidal
Kimani Vidal was really just a special teams fixture in terms of how the team started the year. But in the teams' last three games starting with Seattle, his carries and snaps went up. Vidal has 21 carries for 109 yards, a rushing touchdown, plus a receiving touchdown this season.
Teams need running back help. Pelissero also mentioned Keaton Mitchell, who we'll touch on later. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Chargers at least take calls about the status of Vidal.
Vidal will qualify for restricted free agency in 2027 after his third accrued season. The Chargers will have to give him a pay bump from the $1 million he's making now to at least the rate of the right of first refusal tender. Last year, that was $3.52 million. Do the Chargers want to pay three running backs? Will Keaton Mitchell ($6.1 million 2027 cap hit) be back next year?
I find it unlikely the Chargers would pay for all three backs next year currently. Roughly, that would cost them over $14 million with Vidal at last year's tender value.
So, they could cut Mitchell and keep Vidal if McDaniel were to be out-that would make sense. But if McDaniel does stick around, Mitchell could have priority based on how McDaniel fought to bring him here.
Verdict: 6th-round pick
CB Donte Jackson
Donte Jackson was also brought up by ESPN's Bill Barnwell in a hypothetical Lions trade with Khalil Mack for two day three picks. The vet corner has played very well in the last two seasons. A concussion and a hamstring injury have cost him time on the field this year. But when healthy, he can make a difference in a competitive secondary.
For the Chargers, the case may be similar to Mack. What are their plans for Jackson beyond this season? He turns 31 in November and is on an expiring contract. If they want to retool the cornerback room, it may make sense to get something back now and get a little bit younger at the position going into next year.
His former team in the Steelers run a lot of zone defense under Patrick Graham. So do Jesse Minter's Ravens. Both teams could use some cornerback help. In short, Jackson would probably have a decent amount of interest if he were out there on the market. The question is if the Chargers see a role in 2027 for the vet DB.
Verdict: 5th or 6th-round pick
WR Quentin Johnston
Just five months ago, the Chargers seemed like they were on solidified ground with WR Quentin Johnston. After career best yards and touchdown marks in 2025, they felt comfortable enough to pick up his fifth-year option. Johnston got fully guaranteed $18 million on the books for 2027 as a result.
It's hard to know exactly how the Chargers feel internally about Johnston after just five games this season. But it certainly has not gone the way anyone wanted. Johnston has three drops in five games this season and has played much worse in contested catch scenarios. His yards per route run mark in 2026 is his lowest since his rookie year. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler brought him up as a possible trade candidate recently.
Johnston is still a former first-round pick WR that would have some value around the league. The problem is the down year and the Chargers picking up his fifth-year option. Perhaps the Chargers could've gotten a third or fourth-rounder for him last spring. But now if you're getting off of that 2027 money, you're probably selling Johnston at a loss. I'm skeptical Hortiz wants to do that.
I spoke to a source with a team that quoted Johnston's value as a 2027 sixth or a 2028 fifth. On the upside of Johnston's value, the Eagles-Packers Dontayvion Wicks trade was brought up to me. That was a fifth and a sixth consecutive years. But more than likely, I think Johnston's value is a little below that at the moment.
Verdict: 2027 6th or 2028 5th-round pick
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu
At this point in the article, we're probably in the territory of "less likely, but still worth mentioning". The Chargers had all summer to get a deal done with Tuli Tuipulotu. They didn't. For that reason, teams will still try to call on the productive EDGE rusher.
Tuipulotu in theory is the most valuable asset the Chargers have on this list. He's now up to 19 pressures and two sacks on the season. He's still just 24 years old after a full rookie contract in the league. Sure, in theory that's a second or third-round pick player type of cost.
But with the fate of Mack hanging in the balance, Tuipulotu is clearly too valuable for the Chargers to move off of. If they don't reach a deal with him early next offseason, he seems like a prime candidate for the franchise tag. Last year, the value for a DE tag was $24.4 million.
Any rebuild/retool of the Chargers next year likely involves Tuipulotu in their plans. He's just too young and provides too much value to move off of.
Verdict: 2nd or 3rd-round pick, but more than likely off limits
LB Daiyan Henley
Daiyan Henley is a similar conversation as Tuipulotu, but not quite the same extent of untouchable. He's had his moments this year, but Henley hasn't really recreated his 2024 production and tape over the last two seasons.
Overall though, I'd imagine the Chargers would like to keep the flexibility of their options with Henley next offseason. The option to re-sign him is still there, but they're more than likely qualifying for a compensatory draft pick if he were to walk.
Verdict: 5th-round pick
RB Keaton Mitchell
This is an interesting one to discuss that's perhaps directly linked to Vidal as well. The main question-how much longer is McDaniel going to be with the Chargers? If the Chargers were to part ways with McDaniel before the trade deadline, that certainly could mean a lot for Mitchell's future with the Chargers.
Mitchell has had a decent season with 35 carries for 139 yards and a receiving TD. But he has yet to really find his footing on the outside zone rushing looks that McDaniel intended to use him in.
Contractually, Mitchell has a $6.1 million cap hit next season. But he also doesn't have any guaranteed salary. The Chargers would save $4.25 million against the cap in 2027 if they were to move on from Mitchell via cut.
It's the same gut feeling I have with Vidal. I just don't see how they bring all three RBs back next year (but more expensive) if there is an OC change.
Verdict: 6th-round pick
DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Dalvin Tomlinson has been a solid gap plugger for the Chargers. He had to miss two games earlier this season with a hamstring injury. But in the vein of what has been discussed with Jackson and Mack, we're talking about an older vet player who may not be part of the teams' future plans.
Verdict: 5th or 6th-round pick
LB Denzel Perryman
At nearly 34 years old, Denzel Perryman has spent the 2026 season on IR so far. After the team re-signed JK Scott to the 53-man roster, they placed Perryman on IR with an undisclosed injury. He's on a one-year deal and would be 35 next season.
The team has youth and talent on the roster at LB to the point where guys like Marlowe Wax have mostly been relegated to special teams. If you could get a seventh-rounder or a pick swap back for Perryman, it would kind of fortify the youth movement of the team going forward there.
Perryman is still a useful run defender when he plays. But I'm not really sure what role he's serving here when he's missed 19 of 40 games due to injury and suspension since returning to LA.
Verdict: 7th-round pick or 7th-6th pick swap
EDGE Bud Dupree
A warm body at EDGE. That's really about what Bud Dupree is at this point. Still an OK run defender, but if you're trading for him it's likely just as injury insurance.
Verdict: 7th-6th round pick swap
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