The Chargers are 0-4, and that reality is forcing a hard look at what comes next. If this season is already veering off course, Los Angeles may need to start treating the roster less like a playoff push and more like a team that has to plan beyond 2026.
That’s where the veteran trade conversation begins, and Khalil Mack sits right at the center of it.
Mack is 35 and on an expiring contract, but he has still been making plays. He has three sacks through four games and remains one of the Chargers’ most valuable defenders. If the Chargers don’t believe they’re in position to chase a playoff spot, it becomes easier to justify moving a veteran who could help a contender right now.
There’s also the business side of it. Mack has already built out a career most players never come close to matching, and a trade could give him a shot to finish the year with a team that actually has championship hopes. The return probably wouldn’t be massive - a Day 3 pick may be the best-case outcome - but that kind of asset still matters for a team that needs to keep one eye on the future.
Derwin James is a different conversation entirely.
He’s one of the most important pieces on the Chargers’ defense and is still producing at a high level. Earlier this year, he signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Moving him would be a much louder signal than dealing Mack, and it would be a far bigger call for a franchise that just invested heavily in him.
At the same time, if Los Angeles decides the right move is a rebuild rather than a quick reload, it has to at least hear teams out. Any deal for James would have to bring back a major return, especially after that extension. He’s younger than Mack and could still be part of the next Chargers team that actually gets back on track.
That said, this is not about tearing everything down. The Chargers still have young players they can build around, including Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey and others. The real task is figuring out which veterans still fit into the long-term picture and which ones can be turned into draft capital.
Mack looks like the easiest call.
James is the difficult one.
But with the Chargers sitting at 0-4 and the season already in serious trouble, the front office can’t afford to act like things are simply going to fix themselves. If other teams are willing to offer meaningful draft capital for veterans, Los Angeles should at least take the call.
In Other News...
Chargers Face A Risky Marvin Harrison Jr. Question Worth Watching
Marvin Harrison Jr.s uneven start to his NFL career has already made him a speculative name in league-wide trade chatter, and the Chargers are one of the teams that naturally pop up because of the need for more upside at wide receiver. The appeal is obvious: a former top prospect who could look very different in a new environment, especially in an offense that might be able to put him in better positions to succeed.
For the Chargers, though, this is not a simple talent grab. Any real pursuit would come with risk, since Harrisons value around the league is still tied to projection as much as production, and the price would have to make sense for a team trying to balance urgency with caution. Whether the Chargers would be willing to take that swing is the question worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Bigger Problem Up Front Before Broncos Game
Joe Alts neck injury is shaping up to be the next concern for the Chargers as they head into a quick turnaround and a divisional date with the Broncos. Alt was hurt last week and is now rehabbing, a setback that leaves Los Angeles waiting on one of its most important pieces up front while the line continues to deal with a wave of other injuries.
The encouraging part for the Chargers is that Alt is not expected to land on injured reserve, so this does not sound like a long-term shutdown. Even so, his likely absence adds more uncertainty to a group already juggling health issues as it tries to get through Week 5 and Week 6 without the protection problems piling up any further. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Brutal Justin Herbert Problem At The Worst Time
The Chargers head into their matchup with the Broncos carrying a problem that goes well beyond one Sunday. With both starting tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, expected to miss the game, the protection in front of Justin Herbert is suddenly in a far shakier place, and wide receiver Ladd McConkey also sat out practice because of a foot injury. For an offense that has already had trouble finding rhythm this season, the timing could hardly be worse.
Herbert has been trying to steer an attack that has not produced at the level the Chargers need, and the pressure is only increasing as Week 5 arrives. Losing both edge protectors puts more strain on the entire offensive plan, and it leaves the Chargers needing answers fast against a Denver front that will surely test every weak spot. The bigger concern now is not just getting through one game, but figuring out how much damage this stretch can do to an offense already searching for a spark. [Read more 🡒]