One NFL analyst is already looking at the Chargers and seeing a team that could make a real run in 2026.
Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk said he believes Los Angeles is in the mix for a Super Bowl berth, pointing to a productive offseason and a roster that looks better equipped on both sides of the ball.
“I'm intrigued one by the Chargers because I am one that I do believe the Chargers are in a Super Bowl window, and if that offensive line can stay healthy, they will be a different force than even what we saw last year as a low-level playoff team," Simms said.
That offensive line is the hinge point. When it’s right, the Chargers can roll out one of the league’s best tackle pairings in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Inside, there’s also Tyler Biadasz at center, with Cole Strange expected to start at right guard and Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, and Trey Pipkins III competing for the left guard job.
If that group settles in and stays on the field, it gives Justin Herbert and second-year running back Omarion Hampton a much cleaner runway for 2026.
Mike Florio also weighed in on the Chargers’ offense during the PFT show, focusing on the influence of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“But one clip I saw recently was Mike McDaniel with his offense, and it was an example of how he is trying to teach them and urge them to be fast fast fast in everything they do,” Florio added.
McDaniel has long been viewed as one of the league’s more inventive offensive minds, and that tempo-first approach could fit what Los Angeles is building. The Chargers’ receiver group - Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, and Brenen Thompson - brings speed on the outside, and that could mesh well with McDaniel’s system and Herbert’s ability to attack downfield.
With the Super Bowl set to be played at SoFi Stadium, the Chargers have reason to believe this could be a season worth watching closely.
In Other News...
Chargers Took A Bigger Swing At Center Than Fans Realized
The Chargers search for help at center had more layers to it than the eventual move for Tyler Biadasz suggested. Los Angeles viewed the position as a real priority this offseason, and Biadasz became the answer after he was cut loose by Washington. He was brought in as a fit for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels scheme, with the expectation that he could provide a clearer upgrade over Bradley Bozeman.
Tyler Linderbaum was part of the conversation, too, which hints at how aggressive the Chargers were willing to be in reworking the middle of the offensive line. Instead of landing the younger option they had eyes on, they pivoted once Biadasz became available, and that decision now sits as one of the more interesting behind-the-scenes storylines of the offseason. Linderbaum ended up elsewhere, but the Chargers willingness to chase a bigger swing says plenty about how seriously they treated the spot. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Alt's Recovery Could Change The Chargers Line In 2026
Joe Alt's first days around training camp brought a welcome update for the Chargers, who spent much of last season navigating life without one of their most important young linemen. The right tackle missed significant time in 2025 with a high ankle sprain, and his offseason has been centered on rehab and getting back the confidence and quickness that make him such a key piece of the front line. His return matters not just for the upcoming season, but for the shape of the unit the Chargers want to build moving forward.
Alt is expected to slide back into his natural spot on the right side alongside Rashawn Slater, giving Los Angeles the kind of tackle pairing it has been trying to stabilize. If Alt can stay healthy and recapture his rhythm, the ripple effect could reach well beyond this fall and into the longer-term plan for the line in 2026, when continuity up front may be just as important as talent. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Harris Is Forcing His Way Into The Chargers WR Picture
Tre Harris arrived in camp with the kind of pedigree that usually earns a long look, and he has given the Chargers plenty of reason to keep watching. The second-round pick from last year has clearly taken a step forward during training camp under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, showing the sort of development teams hope to see once a young receiver settles into an NFL program.
McDaniel has already pointed to Harriss improved strength and explosiveness as signs he is pushing his way into the receiver mix. With the offense being reworked and spots in the depth chart still there to claim, Harris is turning his offseason progress into a real case for a bigger role, and the next stretch of camp should tell the rest of the story. [Read more 🡒]