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Chargers Overlooked Need Starting to Earn Concern Nationally

Originally posted on Los Angeles Chargers on SI
By Chris Roling | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 12:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers’ apparent major miss at a critical need with their attempts to fix the guard spots this offseason has dominated the conversation.

That leaves other needs on the Chargers roster sort of flying under the radar.

Granted, there’s clearly a big divide between how the Chargers feel about their offensive line group and how fans view it. From a fan perspective, adding center Tyler Biadasz, signing guard Cole Strange, and merely bringing back other names like Trey Pipkins and Trevor Penning is far too similar to how they handled things last year before disastrous results.

The Chargers, internally, probably see one massive upgrade and an overall scheme change with a new coordinator that could provide huge results.

That fun little debate aside, the zoom out to actually look at other Chargers remaining needs has started.

Chargers' failure to upgrade key spot could hurt them on draft day

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One of the Chargers’ more curious moves of the offseason was the handling of the defensive line.

Those Chargers got the big Teair Tart contract extension out of the way early. But they then turned around and let Da’Shawn Hand walk.

In his place, the Chargers signed Dalvin Tomlinson, a pretty underwhelming move for a nose tackle, all things considered.

ESPN’s Kris Rhim wrote that interior pass-rush remains a major need: “And while the Chargers have a solid defensive tackle group led by Teair Tart, they could use better pass rushers from that position.”

The Chargers clearly wanted to get heavier at the nose. Like, 30 pounds heavier, give or take. Which is fine, but the pass-rush beside it still needs some love.

This doesn't sound like a major issue at face value. But it could be a case of compounding mistakes. If the need at guard on draft day overrides taking a quality interior pass-rusher, then the problems start to layer.

Of course, Jim Harbaugh stressed time and again at league meetings this week that free agency is technically never “over,” and that goes for things like the waiver wire before the draft and well into the summer, too.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Chargers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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