The Los Angeles Chargers have already made their move at tight end, but there’s still room to shop the free-agent market before training camp opens.
That’s not exactly a surprise for a Jim Harbaugh team. He’s made it clear he wants competition everywhere, and the Chargers have kept adding after the draft instead of treating roster building like a finished project.
The David Njoku signing was the headliner, and it landed as one of the stronger moves nationally. Even with breakout Oronde Gadsden at the top of the depth chart and Charlie Kolar now in the mix, the Chargers still found a way to bring in another impact name.
The same kind of thinking could apply to a few veterans still sitting out there.
One area that stands out is edge rusher. The Chargers used a first-round pick on Akheem Mesidor this year, with the idea that he can learn behind Khalil Mack and eventually grow into a long-term pressure piece next to Tuli Tuipulotu.
But the room behind them is thin. Kyle Kennard hasn’t shown much yet, and Bud Dupree keeps showing up on cut lists around the league.
That’s why a player like Jadeveon Clowney makes sense as a possible training-camp addition. He’s 33, and last season in Dallas he posted 22 quarterback pressures and 8.5 sacks in 13 games. He’s not the flashiest name on the board, but he would give the Chargers a real depth option.
Cornerback is another spot where the market still offers something useful. Stephon Diggs is still only 28, but he has not gotten back to his best form since the ACL injury he suffered in 2023, which is part of why he remains unsigned.
For the Chargers, the appeal is straightforward: more competition, more insurance. Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still and Donte Jackson make up a solid trio, and Derwin James can also be part of the nickel picture. Still, there are promising pieces there rather than locked-in answers, and Diggs would add veteran depth to that group.
There are other names in free agency who could help with injury protection during camp as well, including defensive lineman DaQuan Jones and linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Nothing on the market now is going to hit like the Njoku move did. But there are still useful options available, and the Chargers should have a pitch that matters this time of year: a contender with room for veterans who want a real shot.
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