The Los Angeles Chargers still have a lot of work to do to rebuild a team decimated by departing free agents. Perhaps the unit most affected by these losses is the defensive line. They have retained Teair Tart but lost Poona Ford to the Los Angeles Rams and Morgan Fox remains unsigned. Those two combined for over 1200 snaps — playing more snaps than any other interior defensive lineman. Tart accounted for less than 32 percent of snaps played.
Furthermore, they only have three players on the roster and have two players serving as depth pieces at defensive tackle, sophomore Justin Eboigbe and Otito Ogbonnia.
To alleviate this problem, NFL trade rumor expert from Sportsnaut, Matt Johnson has his eye on Arik Armstead of the Jacksonville Jaguars
NFL Trade Rumor Los Angeles Chargers Trade For Arik Armstead From Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jacksonville Jaguars trade: Arik Armstead
- Los Angeles Chargers trade: 159th overall pick (Round 5)
“The Jacksonville Jaguars have to be experiencing buyers’ remorse a year after signing Arik Armstead to a three-year, $51 million contract. He was a massive disappointment in 2024, so much so that Jacksonville might draft his replacement with its first-round pick. With a new regime brought in, it might be in everyone’s best interest to trade Armstead. The Los Angeles Chargers stand out as an ideal landing spot, in part because Armstead gets to return home to California. He also brings a maturity and work ethic that Jim Harbaugh would want in the Chargers locker room. Put him next to Tuli Tuipulotu and the interior defensive line will finally be a strength for Los Angeles.“
Armstead was named Jaguar’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2024.
Armstead’s 2024 season with the Jaguars presented unexpected challenges. After a nine-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, Armstead faced the dual task of adjusting to a new city and a significantly different role on the field. He transitioned from his accustomed position as an interior defensive starter to a rotational edge player, a shift that required substantial adaptation.
This change in role impacted his statistical output. The 31-year-old recorded two sacks, marking his lowest total in a season with double-digit game appearances since his 2015 rookie year. Coincidentally, 2024 also marked the first time since his rookie season that he started only one game. Armstead logged just 70 snaps combined between the right and left defensive tackle spots, per PFF, the lowest of his career outside of a six-game 2017 season.
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Armstead’s 2019 season stands out as the pinnacle of his career, marked by a personal-best 10 sacks. This achievement was closely tied to his positional deployment, as he spent the majority of his time at left end, with 481 snaps lined up outside the right tackle and an additional 170 snaps on or shading the right tackle. However, Armstead’s role evolved in subsequent years, shifting towards a greater emphasis on interior rushing. During his final three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, he averaged 412 snaps at defensive tackle, indicating a significant change in his responsibilities.