The Los Angeles Chargers, on top of their promising class from the 2026 NFL Draft, have also found a small selection of gems in their UDFA signings.
Nadame Tucker, who had a highly productive senior season at Western Michigan under Chris O'Leary, has a real chance to displace either Bud Dupree or Kyle Kennard in the edge rusher room. Isaiah World will likely take his rookie season as a 'redshirt' year as he rehabs his ACL tear, but he has a real chance to make some noise as a big-bodied offensive tackle when he gets healthy.
But there are also a number of UDFAs operating even further on the fringes of the roster that have shown real promise— including inside linebacker Lander Barton.
At the start of the offseason, things in the inside linebacker room seemed open, especially given the lack of consistent production the Chargers have beyond their trio of Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley, and Troy Dye. If Barton were able to compete for a roster spot as the fifth linebacker, it wouldn't have been a major surprise.
But as we approach training camp, the Chargers' coaching staff has projected nothing but confidence in their existing linebacker corps, and it seems as though special teams contributors Marlowe Wax and Del'Shawn Phillips may have a much easier path to the roster than Barton ever did.
Lander Barton's may already have his fate sealed as a practice-squad stash
The case for Barton to compete for the roster is relatively clear. He was highly productive at the University of Utah last season, posting 55 combined tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss across 13 games. Although he lacks the short-area quickness required to be a consistent run defender, it's easy to envision him cycling into coverage alongside Dye as a rotational linebacker.
At the same time, though, both Wax and Phillips have more than earned their opportunities. Both players logged impressive seasons as special teams contributors for Los Angeles in 2025. If Junior Colson ultimately doesn't make the roster— after missing the entirety of last season with an injury— both Wax and Phillips will have the inside track to rotational snaps on the defense.
But even beyond Wax and Phillips' experience with the team, there are two other factors at play here.
Firstly, it doesn't make sense for the Chargers to carry more than five inside linebackers on the 53-man roster. Given the depth of their O-line and the capital they spent on that room this offseason, they may want to carry 10 offensive linemen into 2026. Genesis Smith is also making a push for serious snaps at safety, which would require Los Angeles to carry four safeties (plus Derwin James) in their secondary.
Secondly, out of all the players the Chargers have added this offseason, not many have real special teams upside. Smith, for example, struggles with tackling in the open field. Even if Tucker makes the 53-man roster, he doesn't have much of a special teams pedigree, either.
That leaves Wax and Phillips with important roles to play from the outset, and it leaves a UDFA like Barton with an almost insurmountably steep path to making the roster. If Barton ultimately lands on the practice squad, though, he's worth keeping an eye on as a future option for the ILB room.
Add us as a preferred source on Google