The Los Angeles Chargers will now be dependent on the 2026 NFL Draft to fill a plethora of needs across their roster.
Obviously this situation is less than ideal. Near the start of free agency, they had the most cap space in the league and the flexibility to go after prime free agents to fill out their offensive line and the gaps in their defense. Instead, they decided to play it safe.
They have filled some spots. Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange will likely take the starting center and right guard positions. They also signed Charlie Kolar, Keaton Mitchell, and Dalvin Tomlinson, all of whom will play major roles on the team next season.
But this still leaves them with a need at left guard and depth spots to fill all over their defense. If they had not signed Cole Strange, it would make sense for them to target Olaivavega Ioane out of Penn State in the first round to place a premier talent on the right side of their offensive line.
But that signing, coupled with the Baltimore Ravens' loss of Tyler Linderbaum, leaves their first-round selection wide open. They, therefore, have one clear path to take assuming Ioane is off the board.
They must select the best defensive player available at their draft slot.
Chargers are now left with no choice but to address the offensive line in the later rounds of the draft
Since the start of the offseason, NFL analysts have harped on the Chargers obvious draft need: offensive line. But the Ravens currently have the 14th overall selection in the draft, and their loss of Linderbaum makes it more likely they'll select an interior lineman in that spot, taking Ioane off the board well before Los Angeles even has the option to select him.
In The Athletic's recent mock draft, which was drawn up after the fallout from the reversed Maxx Crosby trade, the Ravens do exactly that, taking Ioane at 14th overall. The Chargers, for their part, are paired with cornerback Jermod McCoy.
Since the Linderbaum departure, draft chatter has routinely linked Baltimore and Ioane. There are a number of solid interior offensive linemen in this draft, but there are none truly worth swinging on in the first round outside of the Penn State product.
McCoy, or any of the other prime defensive pieces on the board, would therefore be the best route for Los Angeles. Although the Chargers filled a need by signing Tomlinson, adding either Caleb Banks or Kayden McDonald at this spot to fill out their defensive tackle room would be a solid move. They also have a need at edge rusher with the departure of Odafe Oweh, leaving them open to perhaps select either Ahkeem Mesidor or Cashius Howell at that point in the first round.
Los Angeles's needs on offense are obviously more dire. But given the positional talent that's available in the first round, the Chargers must select whatever defensive player is highest on their board when the dial turns to them at 22nd overall.