When the Chargers got through final cuts and the 53-man roster scramble, one of the more interesting moves came with cornerback Avery Smith. Los Angeles sent the undrafted free agent to the Seattle Seahawks, and while the deal barely registered nationally, it still ended up looking like a win for Joe Hortiz and the Chargers.
The return was a sixth-round pick in 2027, which is the kind of compensation that doesn’t turn heads at first glance. But the bigger point is what the move said about the organization: the Chargers moved a player who had value, did right by him, and picked up something in the process.
Smith was surprised by the trade, even as he was glad to land in Seattle, where he also found former Toledo teammates.
“I follow football,” Smith said according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune, “and I haven’t really heard of an undrafted free agent getting traded before the regular season. So that is what surprised me.”
Seattle’s John Schneider was just as complimentary about what Smith brought to the table.
“Phenomenal preseason,” Schneider said, per Bell. “I mean outside, nickel, he’s played in our defense (scheme-wise, similar to the Chargers’) now.”
That’s the part of this that matters for the Chargers: they had enough talent at cornerback that Smith became movable. Eric Rogers is gone now, Nikko Reed is back on the practice squad, and the team also signed Kaiir Elam to the practice squad.
So the Chargers turned a cut candidate into an asset instead of losing him for nothing. And this wasn’t some isolated case, either. The team has developed a real knack for stocking the cornerback room with players who can stick.
Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still were mid-round finds. Donte Jackson broke out after being a rehab project. Smith joins a growing list of undrafted free agents from the last few years who have worked out well, too.
At this point, converting that depth into value is just smart roster building. It also helps reinforce a reputation around the league that the Chargers will take care of their own - even if another team, like Seattle, is waiting to benefit.
In Other News...
Chargers Suddenly Have A Backfield Concern They Cant Shrug Off
The Chargers have been juggling enough health issues that even a smaller one in the backfield deserves attention. After season-ending injuries to Tyler Biadasz and a setback for Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles has also had to monitor running back Keaton Mitchell, who has now missed six straight practices because of an injury. The team has stopped short of placing him on injured reserve, which at least leaves the door open for him to return without the kind of long-term absence that would change the shape of the roster.
General manager Joe Hortiz said Mitchell is working through an issue but nothing major, and that kind of wording usually signals a team that wants to be careful rather than alarmed. Even so, the Chargers may have to handle his status with extra caution because of his injury history, and with the rest of the roster already absorbing significant blows, any uncertainty in the backfield becomes part of a bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Linked To Bold QB Move Behind Justin Herbert
The Chargers have been connected to a speculative quarterback move that would add another intriguing layer behind Justin Herbert. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the idea of Los Angeles sending a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Vikings for J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan quarterback who would once again be working with Jim Harbaugh if a deal ever came together.
It is the kind of idea that makes sense on a few different levels for a team already built around Herbert, since it would give the Chargers a developmental backup with familiarity built in. For now, though, it remains just a projection, and the more interesting question is whether Minnesota would be willing to part with a young passer before Los Angeles even gets a real chance to test the market. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Practice Clip Went Viral For The Wrong Reason
A routine Chargers practice clip turned into a talking point for all the wrong reasons this week, after Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel were captured in the middle of a quarterback handoff drill discussion. The exchange itself was about the basics - footwork, timing and how to clean up the handoff mechanics - as the staff continues working with Justin Herbert on the little details that matter when the season gets going.
Social media, though, had other ideas. Instead of focusing on the coaching detail in the video, attention quickly landed on Harbaughs wide-legged stance, which became the unexpected headline from a session that was supposed to be about refinement and repetition. For the Chargers, the real point remains the same: getting Herberts handoffs aligned and the offense sharper before the games begin. [Read more 🡒]