The first stretch of Chargers training camp has already started sorting the rookie class into two buckets: the guys who are flashing right away, and the ones who are going to have to wait for the pads to tell the real story.
Los Angeles came out of the 2026 NFL draft with eight picks, then added nearly 20 undrafted free agents, so there was always going to be a lot to sort through once camp opened. A few rookies were expected to push for immediate roles.
Others were always going to need time. After the first few practices, some of those early expectations are already showing up on the field.
Akheem Mesidor has been one of the clearest early winners. He arrived with a reputation as one of the most pro-ready defenders in the class, thanks to his age, maturity and the polished game he built at the University of Miami. That background has shown up quickly with the Chargers, especially with starting edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu holding in and not taking part in practice while contract extension talks continue.
Mesidor has been working with the first-team defense and has already given the Chargers a look at why he was valued so highly in the draft. His burst off the ball has stood out, and that’s the kind of trait that gets veteran pass rushers paying attention. Khalil Mack has been excited about what he can bring, and Derwin James has noticed it too.
“Man, Akheem he is very explosive! He’s twitchy and I went up to him a few times like a man good rep because he is getting off that ball good. He can kind of do everything”
Brenen Thompson has also made a fast impression. His calling card was obvious before the draft - he ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time there this year, and he was the smallest player tested.
That pushed him down to day three, but his college tape showed a lot more than straight-line speed. He was productive, tough, and dangerous on deep balls, with enough quickness and competitiveness to be more than a gadget player.
That has carried over to camp. Thompson’s speed has popped immediately, but the bigger takeaway is that Justin Herbert is already building trust with him.
Justin Herbert on rookie WR Brenen Thompson: “He’s gonna be very good. We saw it early on that he was gonna be.
He’s skilled. He’s fast.
He’s gonna make a lot of plays for us.”
The Chargers’ second-round pick, center Jake Slaughter, is in a different kind of battle. Los Angeles traded down to get more draft capital before taking him out of Florida, and while he was a career center, the team announced him as a guard. General manager Joe Hortiz said they expect him to compete for the starting left guard job.
For now, that competition is still tilted toward the veterans. Kayode Awosika has been the front-runner and has gotten the first-team reps since OTAs, with Trevor Penning also in the mix. Slaughter’s chance to change that picture may come later, once the pads go on and the Chargers can see how he handles the physical side of the job.
Genesis Smith has been getting positive reviews too, both in OTAs and in the first days of camp. He came into the league as one of the best coverage safeties in the draft, but tackling was the big question mark attached to his game.
There’s been praise for his instincts and ball skills, and some around Chargers media think he could be pushing for a role in the safety room. Defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary wasn’t ready to go that far yet, at least not before the contact starts.
After the second practice of camp, he was asked about Smith and said, "Great question. When the pads come on, I'll be able to say more because we've got to run down the alley and hit people."
That’s the theme for Smith, and really for a few of these rookies. The early signs are encouraging. The next test is the one that matters most.
In Other News...
Chargers Added Two Overlooked Pieces That Could Change This Offense
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Rookie Jake Slaughter was part of the plan, but the early returns have kept the door open for others to make a push, including free agent Kayode Awosika and veteran Matt Pipkins, who has been getting work at left guard. The Chargers are still sorting through who fits best where, and the fact that several players are being used as emergency depth across the line says plenty about how unsettled things remain in front of Herbert. [Read more 🡒]
Khalil Mack Just Made A Huge Chargers Decision
Khalil Macks decision to come back on a one-year deal gives the Chargers a familiar anchor on the edge and a veteran voice in a defense that wants to build on what it already has. He also sounds bought in on what the franchise is trying to do next, which matters for a team that has spent plenty of time trying to sort out its identity and stay competitive in a loaded division.
Around him, the rest of the AFC West is still full of moving parts. Tuli Tuipulotu is concentrating on training camp while his agent handles the contract side, and the Chiefs and Raiders are each dealing with their own development stories at different spots on the roster. For the Chargers, though, Mack staying put keeps one of the most important pieces in place while the bigger question remains how far this group can go with him back in the fold. [Read more 🡒]