Of course, we're only six games into the 2026 slate for the Los Angeles Chargers. But at 0-6, it's hard to see much else ahead for them other than a top pick in the NFL Draft. Postseason play is already out of the question, and the focus must now shift to what Los Angeles can do to position itself for a resurgence in 2027 and beyond.
I'm not yet convinced Los Angeles will be in play for the first overall pick in the Draft. Even if the Chargers sell off some pieces at the deadline, this team has enough talent—and a special quarterback in Justin Herbert—that squeezing out some wins on the back half of the schedule should be a real possibility. But barring a miraculous turnaround, the Chargers are almost certainly going to be selecting somewhere inside the top six or seven of this year's draft.
And as of now, they're in sole possession of the first overall pick.
Even though it's early, we have a solid idea of where the holes on this roster are—and where they will be once the books reset this offseason. This ranking, of course, doesn't function as any sort of a mock draft. If Jeremiah Smith is available at 1.01 or 1.02, you take him, regardless of positional need.
But in a vacuum, here's a quick look at where things stand for Los Angeles as they exit their bye and (hopefully) begin to look ahead to re-shaping this roster.
Chargers' positions of need as 2027 NFL Draft picture continues to unfold
1. Cornerback
Of course, having Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart on their rookie deals through next season is a major boon to this room, and if Los Angeles doesn't want to spend a top pick on a cornerback, they likely don't need to. But Donte Jackson will be a free agent after this season, and Joe Hortiz's approach of filling out this room with mid-round selections and free-agency flyers simply won't be viable for long.
Los Angeles has already suffered because of its lack of depth at the position this season, and the picture only gets cloudier when you move beyond 2026. If receivers like Smith and Indiana's Charlie Becker are somehow both off the board by the time the Chargers come on the clock, expect them to take a long look at a corner like Leonard Moore or Ellis Robinson IV.
2. Outside Linebacker
The Chargers just spent a top pick on an edge rusher this past offseason, using their first-round selection on an older prospect in Akheem Mesidor. That likely was just a stopgap solution, though, in terms of completing this room.
For all intents and purposes, we can assume that Khalil Mack in his final NFL season—at least with Los Angeles. He returned on another one-year deal with hopes of competing for a Super Bowl, and there's a real chance he gets moved at the deadline to a contender if he wishes to realize that dream. The Tuli Tuipulotu contract is, of course, a separate situation. But assuming he's still with the team beyond this season, that leaves Los Angeles with just two viable pass rushers in Mesidor and Tuipulotu in the fold. Both Jesse Minter and Chris O'Leary's pass-rush schemes require three starting-caliber pieces to truly make things work along the defensive line.
Adding a third edge rusher, assuming Mack is done after this season, will be an absolute must for the Chargers in this Draft—even if it's not in the first round.
3. Wide Receiver
It might be somewhat surprising to see wide receiver listed below a pair of defensive positions here when the Chargers' receiving corps has so clearly been inadequate this season. Ladd McConkey has been hurt or limited for the entire campaign, and neither Quentin Johnston nor Tre' Harris have truly cemented themselves as consistent seperation-earners in the deeper part of the field.
But it feels unlikely that the Chargers will be able to move off of Johnston's contract with his $16.5 million fifth-year option kicking in for 2027, and that means they'll still have their top three receivers on their rookie deals heading into the offseason. Again, if Smith or even Becker is available when Los Angeles comes on the board, this ranking goes flying out the window.
But what this room is missing is an alpha receiver, not a late first-round or early second-round selection to add to a corps without a clear identity. Perhaps free agency bears an opportunity here, but it doesn't feel like a guarantee that it will come in the Draft.
4. Offensive Line
This is another need that is somewhat difficult to project for the Chargers. They spent numerous selections in this past draft to fill out their room with mid and late-round picks, and they'll still have Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater under contract for the foreseeable future. But they objectively failed to address their needs along the interior, and a lot of this also depends on if Mike McDaniel is able to save his job over the remainder of the season given the demands of his scheme.
Jake Slaughter, at the very least, has shown signs of promise—even if depending on him to salvage the interior was a mistake. Perhaps if a top guard is available in the second round (or if the Chargers are able to trade up for a late first-round selection), there will be an obvious pick there. But right now, this falls to the bottom of this draft priority list because this is (and was) a need the Chargers should be able to address in free agency.
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