Urgency necessary for Chargers as they enter critical offseason

Why this offseason is so critical for the Chargers 

For the first five years of Herbert’s career, it always felt like the Chargers were a step behind the division rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers would hang tough in the head-to-head matchups but could never seem to close the door, relegating them to wild-card status, while the Chiefs would roll to division titles and Super Bowl appearances.

This year, however, was the first time the Chargers were unequivocal. They won both of the head-to-head matchups with Herbert outplaying Mahomes in each contest. With Mahomes questionable for Week 1 of next season after suffering a torn ACL and the uncertain status of franchise cornerstones Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, the Chiefs look to be on the cusp of a mini-rebuild, opening the door for other AFC contenders to take their place. 

The challenge for the Chargers, of course, is that they still weren’t able to win the AFC West in a Chiefs down year, as the Denver Broncos exploded for 14 wins and the conference's No. 1 seed. That 14-3 record, however, comes with the caveat that they went a remarkable 8-2 in one-score games against the league’s 26th-hardest schedule, making them a prime regression candidate in 2026. 

All of this is to say that the Chargers have a prime opportunity to win the AFC West in 2026, especially considering they will enter the season with the unquestioned best quarterback in the division. What they do this offseason will determine whether they can stack up with other AFC contenders like the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The Chargers rank among the league leaders in projected cap space, and there are clear areas of need to spend it on. The interior of the offensive line was nearly as bad as the tackle position, as Mekhi Becton was not nearly the same player he was last year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Adding a player like Baltimore Ravens three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum would have a profound impact on both Herbert and running back Omarion Hampton, the Chargers' 2025 first-round pick who flashed game-breaking potential despite a serious ankle injury. 

On the defensive side, the Chargers could use another impact pass-rusher alongside Pro Bowler Tuli Tuipulotu. With All-Pro safety Derwin James set to enter his age-30 season and starters Da’Shawn Hand, Donte Jackson, Denzel Perryman and Khalil Mack already in their 30s, the Chargers could use a strong draft class to inject youth into an aging defense. 

The Chargers will also have key decisions to make with their coordinators. They are in danger of losing Minter, who has already received multiple head-coaching interview requests, in what would be a massive blow to a defense that has consistently played above its talent level. 

On Tuesday, meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Roman had come under scrutiny for the Chargers’ inconsistency over the last two seasons and failed to get the stamp of approval from head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

Fortunately for the Chargers, there are many intriguing coordinator candidates available this cycle, whether it be a former head coach like Mike McDaniel, Raheem Morris or Brian Daboll or an up-and-comer like Denver Broncos pass-game coordinator Davis Webb. As the Eagles have shown in recent years, the right coordinator can make all the difference, and the pressure will be on Harbaugh to make the right decision this offseason. 

Though the combination of Herbert and Harbaugh may give the Chargers a floor of a playoff team, there is work to be done to raise their ceiling to a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Their actions this offseason will go a long way toward determining whether they can finally be in a position to exorcise their postseason demons.