Los Angeles Chargers

Tony Jefferson

S

Jefferson, who turned 34 in January, suited up for 13 regular-season games with Los Angeles in 2025, totaling 57 tackles (37 solo) and seven passes defensed, including four interceptions. The experienced veteran figures to reprise a depth role behind starting safeties Derwin James and Elijah Molden again during the 2026 campaign.

Trey Lance

QB

Lance is returning for a second campaign in Los Angeles following stints with San Francisco and Dallas. As Justin Herbert's backup last season, Lance saw action in four games (including a Week 18 start versus Denver), completing 27 of 57 pass attempts for 226 yards and a 0:1 TD:INT while adding 17 carries for 85 yards. The mobile quarterback should be the frontrunner to back up Herbert.

Dalvin Tomlinson

DT

The 32-year-old defensive lineman from Alabama was dropped by the Cardinals on Mar. 6 but has since found a new home in Los Angeles. Tomlinson appeared in 17 games last season, recording 26 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defensed. Now with the Chargers, he's expected to operate as one of the team's top interior defensive linemen during the 2026 season.

Denzel Perryman

LB

Perryman will return to the Chargers for a third consecutive season (and ninth campaign since being drafted by the team in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft). He saw his production dip in 2025, finishing with 47 tackles (30 solo) and three pass defenses across 10 regular-season games. He missed seven games last season, five of which were due to an ankle injury and two more because of a suspension. Perryman's best days are behind him, but he'll fortify the Chargers' depth at inside linebacker behind projected starters Troy Dye and Daiyan Henley.

Keaton Mitchell

RB

Mitchell brings his talents to a backfield already led by Omarion Hamption and No. 2 back Kimani Vidal. Across three seasons with Baltimore, the 24-year-old logged a total of 112 carries for 767 yards and three touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.34 YPC. While the Hampton and Vidal represent difficult competition for Mitchell to earn depth opportunities, he seems a strong fit for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme and will be a sleeper candidate to impress with the Chargers.

Josh Harris

LS

Harris will be receiving a new contract after spending the last four seasons with the Chargers organization. The long snapper had a late start to the 2025 season due to a chest issue that kept him on injured reserve till early November, but he was able to finish out the year healthy. The 36-year-old will return to snap for kicker Cameron Dicker and punter JK Scott as the Chargers gear up for the 2026 season.

Del'Shawn Phillips

LB

Phillips suited up for all 17 of Los Angeles' regular-season games in 2025 as well as the team's wild-card round loss to New England, operating as a depth option at linebacker and a key playmaker on special teams. As Pelissero notes, Phillips led the league in special teams tackles in 2025, earning second-team All-Pro honors. He'll work to continue making plays on special teams over the next two seasons.

Trey Pipkins III

OT

Pipkins will stick around Los Angeles after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Chargers. The 29-year-old will provide the team with a well-experienced backup option behind Rashawn Slater (kneecap) and Joe Alt (ankle) at offensive tackle in 2026.

Deane Leonard

CB

The 26-year-old corner from Ole Miss appeared in just eight regular-season games for the Chargers last season due to a knee injury. However, he's operated as one of Los Angeles' best special-teams players over the last two years, logging 355 special-teams snaps and 13 total tackles. Expect Leonard to maintain a similar role ahead of next season.

Cole Strange

G

Strange will head to Los Angeles after spending the 2025 campaign with the Dolphins. He will now reunite with Mike McDaniel, his head coach in Miami, as McDaniel has taken over as the Chargers' offensive coordinator. Strange will look to compete for a starting role at offensive guard in 2026.

Trevor Penning

G

Penning will get a chance to continue his development with the Chargers after having joined the team mid-season via trade from the Saints in 2025. The 2022 first-round pick started four of his seven appearances with Los Angeles last season and will be a candidate to contribute at both guard and tackle in 2026.

Charlie Kolar

TE

Once Kolar's deal is made official Wednesday at the start of the new league year, he will become the league's highest-paid blocking tight end, per Garafolo. The deal includes $17 million in guaranteed money. Perhaps the Chargers also see some untapped pass-catching potential in Kolar, who had just 30 catches across four regular seasons with the Ravens while working behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.

Alec Ingold

FB

The deal makes Ingold the NFL's highest-paid fullback and reunites him with OC Mike McDaniel, who was Ingold's head coach in Miami the previous four seasons. Ingold logged 37 percent of the offensive snaps across 17 regular-season games with the Dolphins during the 2025 campaign.

Khalil Mack

LB

After the Chargers' loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round in January, Mack relayed to Omar Navarro of the team's official site that he planned to contemplate whether or not to continue playing. On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Mack intended to do so, and the pass rusher now has a new one-year deal in place. Since racking up 17.0 sacks in 2023, Mack has accrued 11.5 sacks in 28 regular-season games over the past two years, indicating the 35-year-old still has something left in the tank as he embarks in his 13th NFL campaign.

Kendall Williamson

S

The details of Williamson's contract haven't been announced by the Chargers, but the 2023 seventh-rounder figures to be around for at least the 2026 season. He served mostly on special teams last year and finished with 14 tackles (eight solo) across 17 regular-season games, though an ankle injury prevented him from playing in the Chargers' AFC wild-card loss to the Patriots in January.

Jaret Patterson

RB

Patterson signed to the Chargers' practice squad in mid-October before joining the active roster in late November due to an ankle injury to Omarion Hampton. Patterson tallied eight or more carries in four of six regular-season games and finished with 41 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown along with three catches (on four targets) for eight yards. The Buffalo product will compete for a spot on the Chargers' 53-man roster for the 2026 season.

Kimani Vidal

RB

It essentially locks Vidal in for the 2026 season after he got extended run last season following injuries to both Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris (Achilles). With Harris headed for free agency, Vidal could enter next season as the RB2 to Hampton after Vidal posted a 155-643-3 rushing line across 13 regular-season appearances in 2025. He also added 16 catches for 136 yards and one additional touchdown.

Tyler Biadasz

C

The 28-year-old from Wisconsin finished his 2025 campaign with the Commanders on IR due to ankle and knee injuries, but his signing with Los Angeles on Friday suggests he's since moved past those issues. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Biadasz's deal with the Chargers is worth $30 million over three years, making him sixth-highest paid center in the NFL. He's started 84 of 92 regular-season games since entering the league in 2020 and earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Cowboys in 2022. Biadasz is expected to help fortify a Chargers offensive line that allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL (60) in 2025.

Bud Dupree

LB

The 11-year vet missed just one regular-season game, Week 16 against the Cowboys, due to a back injury, and he also sat out the wild-card loss to the Patriots because of a hamstring issue. Dupree did see a significant decrease in snaps, as he logged 390 this past season after seeing 522 in 2024. The 33-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and it remains to be seen if the Chargers will be interested in a reunion.

Donte Jackson

CB

Jackson's four-interception total is the second best of his eight-year career, with only his 2024 season with the Steelers netting a higher total (five). Jackson has one more year on his contract with the Chargers and will likely continue operating as the starting outside cornerback for the team in 2026.

RJ Mickens

S

Mickens was utilized as a rotational safety option behind starters Derwin James and Elijah Molden. The rookie enjoyed a strong start to his career with interceptions against the Vikings in Week 8 and the Steelers in Week 10. He will likely start his sophomore season in a rotational role once again, as both James and Molden will be back in their starting roles in 2026.

Jamaree Caldwell

DT

The Chargers selected Caldwell in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he went on to play 485 defensive snaps in his rookie season. He primarily functioned as a run stuffer, which he did effectively, and he should at least maintain a comparable role in 2026. While Caldwell was a key member of the Chargers defense, his fantasy intrigue is minimal due to his lack of production as a pass rusher.

Cam Hart

CB

The second-year corner didn't always start (six times) in 2025, but he did usually play, seeing the field for more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in 14 of his 16 appearances. Hart took on a similar role as a rookie in 2024, finishing the regular season with 37 tackles (28 solo) and seven pass breakups. The 2024 fifth-round pick has two years left on his rookie deal.

Elijah Molden

CB

The safety started 12 of 15 regular-season games for the Chargers a year ago, his first season with the team. With two years left on the three-year deal he signed last February, Molden appears to be a part of the team's plans for 2026 as well.

Troy Dye

LB

The inside linebacker also made two tackles (one solo) in the Chargers' playoff loss to the Patriots. Dye made seven starts in his 16 regular-season appearances. In each of the last two campaigns with the Chargers, he has finished with more than 50 tackles, but he has yet to secure a consistent starting role.