The Los Angeles Chargers, for the most part, took care of business this offseason—at least in terms of filling out their roster and bringing the players they needed to back on short-term deals.
Obviously, at 0-6, there's plenty of room to critique the players they did sign. The Cole Strange gamble has fallen undeniably flat, and injuries and other inconsistencies have significantly reduced the impact of the rest of the free agent class.
But in all of this, it's easy to lose sight of the one key player they ultimately didn't sign this offseason—outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu.
Tuipuluto was coming off a monstrous, 13-sack campaign this offseason, and rather than extending him on a deal that likely would've fallen in the range of $25 million annually, the Chargers ultimately held off on getting his next contract set in stone. We don't have any concrete updates on negotiations, so it's unclear how far apart the two sides are or where the difference ultimately lies.
But we do know that, as the Chargers' season continues to fall apart before their eyes, a key piece of the future of their defense remains unsigned. That alone is reason for some slight, underlying anxiety.
Tuli Tuipulotu needs to be resigned by the Chargers, no matter how the rest of this season goes
Of course, virtually anything is on the table when a team falls apart like this. Although Joe Hortiz claimed he hasn't been fielding calls in regards to potential trade deadline moves, that seems like an inevitable reality of this season. Moving off of a piece like Khalil Mack or Kimani Vidal can't take the Chargers' season any farther off the rails than it's already gone.
But the future, and the team's ability to contend in 2027 and beyond, still needs to be the primary consideration here. Even if Mack chooses to stay at the trade deadline—which is well within his right—it's reasonable to think that this is the final season of his NFL career. At the very least, his time in the league is certainly nearing its an end, and Los Angeles can't afford to spend another top pick on an edge rusher after their Akheem Mesidor selection in this past Draft. As solid as he's been, Mesidor certainly can't be trusted to hold down the pass rush on his own.
Tuipulotu, then, needs to be a cornerstone of this defense moving forward. That's likely part of why the Chargers left just over $26 million off the books for this season—to give them the flexibility moving forward to extend their key defender.
Hortiz also hasn't ruled out signing Tuipultou to a contract in-season. But for Tuipulotu, why would you not at least test the market at this point? Have the Chargers shown enough to convince him of their competitiveness beyond this season?
Sure, his production is down as well relative to 2025. According to Pro Football Focus's tracking, he's posted 19 pressures but only one sack through six games. His play against the run has, naturally, been inconsistent as well.
But it's also reasonable to think that he'll turn things around by the end of this campaign. Chris O'Leary has shown some aptitude for lining up advantageous pressure packages in the same way that Jesse Minter did during his time in Los Angeles. It's likely simply a matter of time before the sacks come rolling in for Tuipulotu. Even if he can't match the 13-sack total he found in 2025, there are always teams who are willing to pursue capable pass rushers in free agency—especially those who have shown alpha-level production in the past.
If the Chargers can't get a deal done before the end of the season (which feels less likely with each passing week), there's a chance they either lose or overpay Tuipulotu this offseason. Both scenarios are unacceptable as this team attempts to move forward from a season that's already essentially been written off.
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