The Los Angeles Chargers have made quite a few moves in free agency within the first week, mostly on the defensive side. Below are some of the winners and losers in terms of position groups.
Los Angeles Chargers Position Group Losers
Tight Ends
Additions: None so far
Returning: Tucker Fisk
I wrote last week about how tight end Will Dissly needs assistance so he won’t have to do as much on the receiving front, and with the departure of Stone Smartt to the Jets, his pool of help is shrinking.
Tucker Fisk has gotten better in run blocking and had a handful of snaps on the receiving and special teams side, but the Los Angeles Chargers have yet to add a tight end that is really a difference-maker. Maybe they’re saving up for the draft, but this position group needs to be filled out much more before I can have confidence in it.
Defensive Line
Additions: Naquan Jones, Da’Shawn Hand
Returning: Teair Tart
The defense received quite a few more pieces with the additions of defensive lineman Naquon Jones from the Cardinals and Da’Shawn Hand from Miami.
Hand in particular had a big presence in Miami last year as according to Myles Simmons of NBC Sports Hand “was on the field for 53 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps and 24 percent of special teams snaps.”
Jones has played a good amount of games in Arizona and Tennessee over the last few seasons and as Spencer Schultz of Chargers Wire noted, Jones “played 260 (34%) defensive snaps for the Cardinals” in 2024.
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Tart had a great season with the Chargers last year and played in all games, with career highs in most of his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades. So Tart was a welcome extension.
The addition of Hand and Jones is positive, but letting players like defensive linemen Poona Ford go to the Rams, who was so dominant last year in run defense and pass rush, and Morgan Fox to the Falcons, who’s been consistent while in LA in the last few years, makes me nervous for this unit. Hoping more additions will help move them to the winners’ area.
Wide Receivers
Additions: Mike Williams
Returning: Jalen Reagor
I’m not sour on bringing back Williams to reunite with quarterback Justin Herbert, as the two have great chemistry and are responsible for some highlight-worthy plays. And Reagor certainly came in handy when the Chargers needed some receiving options in 2024. But, the Chargers should’ve gone for more high-caliber receivers on the market.
I know it would’ve been pricey, but it would’ve been worth it to get someone like a Davante Adams or a Cooper Kupp.
Williams is capable of making these contested catches and is a great player, but he’s also had some pretty serious injuries. Hopefully, the Chargers will pick up someone in the draft to add to this unit in case Williams gets hurt.
Los Angeles Chargers Position Group Winners
Linebackers
Additions: Del’Shawn Phillips
Returning: Khalil Mack (Outside Linebacker), Troy Dye (Linebacker), Denzel Perryman (Linebacker)
The retention of Mack was good, considering that the Chargers were unable to keep outside linebacker Joey Bosa. Mack may not have performed up to his 2023 standards with 17 sacks but he still had six during this last regular season. If this will be Mack’s last year, it’s great that he’ll be able to end it with the Chargers.
Dye was a necessary extension, especially on the special teams side with the departure of linebacker Nick Niemann to the Texans. Not only did Niemann and Dye help out on the defensive side when Perryman was out in 2024, Dye played the most special teams snaps of the Chargers (366) during that regular season.
Phillips hasn’t played a lot on the defensive side since coming into the league but has been a consistent presence on special teams, so it’ll be good to have someone to help out Dye.
Perryman didn’t truly get going last year as he unfortunately dealt with a groin injury throughout the season. This season will be make or break, but I’m hoping we’ll see more of the dominant Perryman that we saw during Week 2 last year against Carolina, who had some great tackles and can really add some oomph to this run defense.
Defensive Backs
Additions: Benjamin St-Juste (Cornerback), Donte Jackson (Cornerback)
Returning: Elijah Molden (Safety)
I’m really only putting this position group in the winners’ category because of the retention of Elijah Molden. He was one of my bright spots of 2024 as he had a career-high in interceptions (three) and ended the regular season with a high receiver coverage grade (75.4%). He deserved that extended contract and it’s great the Chargers have committed to him for three years.
St-Juste isn’t a bad add, he’s just not the best considering the cornerbacks that were in the market. David Harrison of Sports Illustrated mentioned that St-Juste was slowly racking up games and seemed to be on a good path with Washington, then he noted that “2023 came, and St-Juste wasn’t the only one to go down with the sinking ship that was Washington football at the time. While the franchise rejuvenated itself in 2024, St-Juste couldn’t quite rise with it, and because of that, it was all but a foregone conclusion he would not be back in 2025.”
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On a positive note, St-Juste’s coverage grades have been within the 40s to 60s, his tackle number has continued to rise from 52 in 2023 to a career-high 56 in 2024, according to ESPN.
With Jackson, I feel similarly to St-Juste. Jackson had double digits in missed tackles in 2024 and 2023 while his number of tackles has been up and down.
Though like safety Tony Jefferson and Tart, perhaps Jackson and St-Juste just need a new scheme and new leadership, and they’ll show that their best play is ahead.
Offensive Line
Additions: Mekhi Becton(Guard), Andre James (Center)
Returning: Bradley Bozeman (Center)
If only Bozeman had returned, this would have put this position group in the loser category, as I am still not completely in on Bozeman. Though he was responsible for fewer sacks last regular season than in 2023, he had the same number of quarterback hurries (19) and only about five fewer quarterback pressures (27) than his career high of 2023.
Luckily, the Chargers added Andre James who has had pass-blocking grades in mostly the 60s and 70s throughout his career and has done decently in run blocking. And granted, there’s been talk that offensive guard Zion Johnson has also been taking reps at center, so there could be the possibility that Bozeman will not be used during every game throughout the season.
Mekhi Becton was a solid add. He really cut down on his number of sacks, hits, pressures, and hurries from 2023, his run-blocking grade has mostly been in the 70s, and was just on a Super Bowl-winning team. It’ll be great to have the two big monsters of him and right tackle Joe Alt protecting quarterback Justin Herbert this season.
Running Backs
Additions: Najee Harris
Returning: None so far
Though it would’ve been great to get back J.K. Dobbins, Harris was a good add for the Chargers. He hasn’t had less than 1,000 rushing yards during his career and has had multiple rushing touchdowns each season. He has also been healthy through each season, which is key for this unit.
The Chargers do still need to build out this position group since Gus Edwards has been cut, but I feel like we’re still in for some surprises in this area during the draft and throughout the rest of free agency.
Quarterbacks
Additions: None so far
Returning: Taylor Heinicke
This seemed like a no-brainer to extend Heinicke, as he has so much experience as a journeyman quarterback, including close to an entire season of starts in 2021. He’s not the best quarterback but he’s much better to have behind Herbert than Easton Stick, so it’s good the Chargers are hanging onto him for one more year.
Special Teams
Additions: None so far
Returning: J.K. Scott (Punter)
I’ve already talked about Dye when it comes to special teams, but the retention of Scott on a two-year deal was another good decision. I’ve written extensively about Scott and can’t stop singing his praises. According to PFF, Scott had a career-high punt grade this past regular season (84%) and had 28 punts inside the 20-yard line, only a little off from his career high in 2023 of 33. He’s reliable and only getting better.