The Chargers are staring at the NFL trade deadline with a roster that needs help in more than one spot, and the smartest path may be the least flashy one. With injuries piling up on the offensive line and the offense still looking for more consistent answers, general manager Joe Hortiz could look for affordable additions instead of chasing a big name.
That approach points to players whose current teams have reasons to listen. The Chargers do not need to burn premium draft capital to make a move, especially if the goal is simply to steady the roster and give Justin Herbert more support.
One of the cheaper defensive options is Malik Herring, who could make sense if Los Angeles loses veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack. Herring began the season with the Titans before landing with the Dolphins, where he has worked as a rotational defender.
He could give the Chargers another body on the edge and help cover some of the depth that would be lost if Mack departs. Miami is rebuilding, so a sixth- or seventh-round pick could be enough to get something done if the Dolphins are willing to deal him.
On offense, the Chargers could use a receiver who wins quickly and gives Herbert a more dependable target. Jerry Jeudy fits that description.
His route-running would pair well with Ladd McConkey and could give Los Angeles another option on intermediate routes and underneath throws. Jeudy has already come up in trade-deadline speculation, and while the Browns would have to be willing to move him and his contract would matter in any talks, a mid- to late-round pick has been floated as the type of price involved, not a confirmed ask.
Dylan Cook is another name to keep on the radar. He has become a lower-cost possibility after losing his starting opportunity to Steelers 2026 first round pick, Max Iheanachor.
Cook would not be a plug-and-play answer, but he could bring depth and competition to a Chargers offensive line that needs more reliable protection for Herbert. Pittsburgh might be open to moving him if its own line depth can absorb the loss, and a late-round pick would be a logical starting point.
Calvin Ridley is also on the list of receivers worth watching as the deadline gets closer. He has shown he can threaten defenses downfield, which would give Herbert another way to attack opponents and create space for McConkey and the rest of the passing game. Tennessee has been identified as a possible seller, and Ridley’s contract is part of why he belongs in the conversation.
The other tackle option is Austin Jackson, and given the state of the offensive line, that may be the most practical kind of upgrade Los Angeles can chase. Jackson would add another experienced option to protect Herbert and give the Chargers more competition at tackle. Miami has been mentioned as a possible seller, and Jackson could be available if the Dolphins decide future draft capital matters more than keeping him and believe they have enough replacements.
For the Chargers, the priority should be clear: protect Herbert first, then sort out the rest. A player like Cook would come cheaply, while Jeudy and Ridley would offer different answers in the passing game.
Herring would help if the defense loses more edge depth. The deadline move that makes the most sense is the one that fills a real need without costing the Chargers too much in the draft.
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