The Chargers’ offseason overhaul is already starting to squeeze out familiar names, and a few players who were brought in for depth or emergency help look vulnerable before Week 1 even arrives.
At guard, Andre James Penning may have the clearest uphill climb. Los Angeles picked him up last year when injuries piled up, and the former first-round pick ended up logging 551 snaps after moving inside.
The production never really followed. Penning posted a 53.5 grade at Pro Football Focus, which placed him 64th out of 81 guards.
He does bring some flexibility, but that alone may not be enough to secure a spot, especially with Trey Pipkins locked into the swing backup tackle role, Kayode Awosika getting first-team work in minicamp, and second-round rookie Jake Slaughter lined up for a starting job.
Running back could also get crowded fast. The Chargers lost Raheim Sanders last year, a move that looked like it might have cost them one of the stronger undrafted free-agent additions on the board.
This summer could bring a similar result. Jaret Patterson has value on special teams and as a backup, but the room is already stacked at the top.
Gregory Desrosiers, a college free agent, could at least make the battle for the fourth spot more interesting.
Then there’s Bud Dupree, whose future seems to be slipping into the background. He’s 33 and entering the final year of his contract, and cutting him would free up about $2.49 million.
The Chargers don’t exactly need the money, but the edge group is already loaded with Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and first-round pick Akheem Mesidor. The staff also still expects Kyle Kennard to deliver on his draft status, and the team paid up for Nadame Tucker, an undrafted free agent with ties to new coordinator Chris O’Leary.
With that kind of crowd ahead of him, Dupree looks like one more veteran who may not survive the final trim to 53.
In Other News...
Chargers Just Added A Massive Rookie Tackle Fans Will Debate Fast
The Chargers kept adding to their offensive line with a move that fits both the present and the future, taking Travis Burke out of Memphis in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and quickly getting him under contract on a four-year deal. Burkes path to the league ran through Gardner-Webb, FIU and Memphis, and his college tape plus physical traits were enough to put him on NFL scouts radar as a tackle worth developing.
For Los Angeles, the appeal is obvious: Burke arrives as a developmental piece behind an already established group, giving the team another young body to shape without asking him to carry an immediate load. The bigger question is how quickly he can turn those tools into dependable NFL play, especially with evaluators still sorting through where his best fit ultimately lies. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Got A Reason To Believe The Chiefs Can Fall
The Chargers have spent years trying to close the gap in the AFC West, and this is the kind of outside noise that at least makes the chase feel a little less daunting. ESPN analyst Ben Solak pointed to Kansas Citys ongoing roster reshaping and the reality of contract decisions hanging over veteran players, arguing that the Chiefs may not look as untouchable down the line as they have for much of the Patrick Mahomes era.
For Los Angeles, the more interesting part is what comes next on its own side of the ledger. A roster that can stack up with Kansas Citys, plus a fresh offensive voice in Mike McDaniel, gives the Chargers a plausible path to making the division race real if Justin Herbert can settle quickly into the new system. Herberts adjustment could end up being the swing factor if the AFC West starts to tilt at all. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Bigger Tight End Question Than Expected
The Chargers thought they had a clear answer at tight end after Oronde Gadsden IIs strong rookie season in 2025, but the picture changed fast when veteran David Njoku arrived on a one-year deal. Njoku brings nine years of experience and a Pro Bowl nod, giving Los Angeles a proven pass catcher who has long been more than just a depth piece.
What makes this especially interesting is that the competition may not end with one player simply winning and the other fading into a backup role. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has the kind of personnel mix that could lead to plenty of multiple-tight-end looks, which means Gadsden and Njoku may both have real value even as the Chargers sort out how to use them most effectively. [Read more 🡒]