2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Chargers (2026)

Now we’re firmly in playoff territory.

Picks 21 through 24 belong to teams that either made a brief appearance in January or believe they’re one move away from doing so. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars (whose selection has been traded to the Cleveland Browns) all enter draft weekend with legitimate aspirations — but also identifiable areas that could derail those ambitions.

This isn’t about overhauling a roster.

It’s about refinement.

For some, that means adding a final defensive piece to survive elite quarterbacks in the postseason. For others, it’s about protecting a franchise passer, strengthening depth in the trenches, or preparing for looming contract extensions that could reshape the roster in 2027 and beyond.

The pressure here is different from that at the top of the board. These teams can’t afford developmental luxury picks. They need contributors. Snap-eaters. Playoff-caliber depth.

And because Jacksonville’s pick now belongs to Cleveland, the ripple effects extend beyond one franchise. A win-now team selecting here changes how the back half of Round 1 unfolds.

In this batch, we break down:

The biggest roster holes for each franchise
Contract situations and future cap implications
Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
Potential fantasy football implications

These are the teams that believe they’re close — and in this part of the draft, the right selection can be the difference between another early exit and a deep postseason run.

Up next: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars (pick traded to Cleveland).

Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.

Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers

Team Needs: EDGE, IOL, S, CB

2026 Free Agent Key Losses:

G Zion Johnson, G Jamaree Salyer, EDGE Odafe Oweh, DT Otito Ogbonnia, CB Benjamin St-Juste, DL Da’Shawn Hand

2026 Free Agents:

RB: Najee Harris, Hassan Haskins
WR: Keenan Allen
TE: Tyler Conklin, Tucker Fisk (RFA)
OL: LT Austin Deculus, OG Mehki Becton

2027 Free Agents:

QB: DJ Uiagalelei (ERFA), Trey Lance
RB: Amar Johnson (ERFA), Jaret Patterson (ERFA), Kimani Vidal
WR: Quentin Johnston (CLUB), Derius Davis, Dalevon Campbell (ERFA), JaQuae Jackson (ERFA), Luke Grimm (ERFA)
TE: Will Dissly, Tanner McLachlan (ERFA), Thomas Yassmin (ERFA)
OL: G Mekhi Becton, G Ben Cleveland, G Bobby Hart, OT Branson Taylor (ERFA), C Josh Kaltenberger (ERFA), G Trevor Penning
EDGE:Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree, Tuli Tuipulotu, Garmon Randolph (ERFA)
DL: TeRah Edwards (ERFA), Dalvin Tomlinson
LB: Troy Dye, Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman
CB: Donte Jackson, Isas Waxter (ERFA), Deane Leonard
S: Derwin James, Emany Johnson (ERFA), Kendall Williamson, Tony Jefferson
ST: JK Scott, Scott Matlock, Peter Bowden (ERFA)

There are a lot of guys we’d like to bring back, and Keenan Allen being on that list is not exactly what you want to hear from the Chargers GM, Joe Hortiz (also loves Allen). To bring back an aging veteran WR way past his prime, who takes targets away from the younger skill players on the Chargers. Nonetheless, it’s something fantasy managers need to at least consider.

Because the primary focus of the Bolts’ offseason has to be on the offensive line. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. We all saw this offense crater without the top two tackles, among other OL issues.

Justin Herbert was constantly running for his life. The big-armed QB finished the 2025 season as the QB10 in PPG, mostly on the back of his rushing production (6th in rushing yards per game at 31.1). Career highs in rushing yards and carries. But the losses on the offensive line crushed his ceiling, along with his own injuries. With a healthier OL in 2026, Herbert can flirt with elite fantasy QB status. Five games with Joe Alt in 2025: Hebert averaged nearly 24 PPG (23.9). In the 12 games without Alt? 16.2 PPG.

Both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are expected to return at full health in 2026.

But patching the OL is still not complete. OG Mekhi Becton is no guarantee to return after he struggled in 2025. OG Zion Johnson left in free agency. Center Bradley Bozeman just retired. Offensive tackle Trey Pipkins….please no. He is a backup only (which is why the Chargers retained him over the next two years). They also added Cole Strange (played in Miami last year).

LA is taking no chances at injuries, derailing their OL two years running.

Protection for Herbert is the No. 1 need for this offense.

The Bolts got a head start on the OL with the addition of center Tyler Biadasz. 3 years and $30 million after he was released from the Commanders.

The offensive weapons already seem pretty good/set, but the GM said at the NFL Combine they would attack the offensive line, defense, backs/tight ends, wide out, etc. The more players surrounding Herbert, the better.

I’d guess they also bring in another tight end who is used more traditionally, with Oronde Gadsden profiling as that true “mismatch” receiving threat (H-tight end).

Gadsden could very much be Mike McDaniel’s new Darren Waller (who had some success last year in Miami after coming out of retirement).

And that would put newly-acquired TE, Charlie Kolar, into the strict blocking role that we saw guys like Durham Smythe and Julian Hill occupy in Miami under McDaniel.

Now, there’s been some back-and-forth about whether Kolar coming to LA is good or bad for Gadsden from a fantasy football perspective. S/O to FFdataroma‘s post, forcing me to take another look at it.

Gadsden isn’t a true full-time tight end because he is clearly preferred on pass-catching downs. Signing Kolar limits Gadsden in that capacity. But it also means he will be strictly running routes.

But it might not be as high a rate as it was last season. Last year, Waller maxed out at 86% route participation – with him more consistently under 67%. Greg Dulcich was at 71% when he was operating as the true “move” tight end in McDaniel’s offense.

But in 2024…the receiving tight end for Miami was Jonnu Smith. 24th in route participation among tight ends (60%). But a TE4 finish. Last year, Gadsden was at 61% route participation. Gadsden averaged 44.3 receiving yards per game in 2025 (11th in yards during regular season). Same YPRR as Tyler Warren/Harold Fannin Jr. Finished as the TE21 in PPG overall (7.1). But produced 4 top-12 finishes.

Production dipped in the second half, with injuries, etc. But with Allen’s 126 targets hypothetically removed in 2026….you can still feel pretty good about taking the shot on Gadsden.

Again, the weekly upside case is still present, even if the floor might be nonexistent in certain matchups where LA can run the ball effectively. But at tight end, you should be less concerned about the floor and more concerned about the ceiling.

The Bolts’ new offensive coordinator said in his introductory presser that making life easier for Herbert is the goal. QB’s best friend? An effective run game.

Omarion Hampton finished his rookie season as RB16 in PPG in 9 games played, but he suffered from a tough situation. As noted, the Chargers were gutted by injuries on their offensive line and to their starting QB. The rookie RB dealt with his own injuries as well.

But Hampton flashed enough upside to be worth buying into as a fantasy RB1 behind a healthy OL in 2026.

He played four games with a 79% plus snap share, averaging 17.5 PPG. The former UNC product received bell-cow level usage, averaging 17.3 touches per game (tied for top-12 at the position). Also played four games with five or more catches (7th in receptions per game at 3.6). PFF ranked him as the 8th-best graded rusher, finishing 11th in yards after contact per attempt (3.34).

The Chargers also signed former Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell to a two-year deal. Adds another element of explosiveness to the backfield in what’s a great scheme fit for McDaniel’s offense. Also, the Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz connection to Baltimore probably helped get this deal done.

The Chargers also signed former Dolphins FB, Alec Ingold.

Defensively, the DL needs some love. Key FAs across the board, specifically at pass rush: Khalil Mack, Odafe Oweh, and Da’Shawn Hand. Mack was brought back on a one-year deal. Del’Shawn Phillips is also coming back on a two-year deal. Hand and Oweh left in free agency.

DT Teair Tart signed an extension this offseason, which suggests the DL additions will more likely come in the form of edge rushers (big need). They also signed former Cardinals DT Dalvin Tomlinson.

Starting safety Tony Jefferson is returning on a one-year deal, with Derwin James entering the last year of his contract. CB Donte Jackson will also be a free agent at the end of the season.

Chris O’Leary is the new defensive coordinator for the Chargers. Spent 2025 with Western Michigan.

Keep tabs on EDGE rusher Nadame Tucker, who played for the Western Michigan Broncos and coach O’Leary in 2025.