With a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, virtually everything is on the table for the Los Angeles Chargers.
They already possess a solid backfield of Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, and their balanced receiving core of Quentin Johnston, Keenan Allen, and Ladd McConkey should be sufficient. If the Chargers want to devote their resources elsewhere, no one would blame them.
Yet the temptation will always be there to go hunt for another offensive weapon this offseason. Although this isn't a star-studded free agent class, there are a number of players who could play a massive role in Los Angeles's passing game.
One of these is Deebo Samuel, who had the best season of his career under McDaniel in 2021. With his contract void with the Washington Commanders officially kicking in, the clock is now ticking on his time in Washington.
If the Commanders decide to simply eat the dead cap he leaves behind, the Chargers could have an intriguing opportunity on their hands.
Deebo Samuel could soon officially become a free agent the Chargers must think about
It's difficult to ignore the fact that Samuel has slowed down quite a bit since his heyday in 2021. Washington went after him as part of their unsuccessful bid to accelerate their timeline. In 2025, he posted 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns on 99 targets.
Part of this was the dip the Commander's offense suffered when Jayden Daniels missed time. Part of this was a healthy amount of regression in Samuel's game.
But Washington will soon have a decision to make. Samuel's contract has now officially voided, leaving them with over $12 million of dead cap on the books for next year. They have the financial flexibility to simply eat that and let Samuel walk in free agency.
If they do so, Samuel will have suitors. He's projected to earn roughly $15 million annually on his next deal per Spotrac.
With his size and skill as a contested catch threat, he could be the perfect complement to the Chargers' existing speedy receiver corps. McDaniel has stated he wants to provide easy completions for Justin Herbert, and Samuel's addition would be a major boost for that cause.
He could also factor into the run game. Although his volume from the backfield took a major dip in 2025, he averaged 45 attempts over the four seasons before that.
It would be somewhat of a risky signing if he becomes available, but it's a situation that's worth monitoring for Los Angeles.