The Los Angeles Chargers have been busy in the off-season, with several free agent signings, but nothing terribly splashy. So, are they better than they were in 2023? As of this writing, on paper it looks like perhaps a wash or perhaps a step backwards, but that said, the team was 5-12 in 2023, so it would be hard to do much worse. In fact, if you or I were the coach of the Chargers, it wouldn’t be too difficult to meet or beat a 5-12 record. We all know that new HC Jim Harbaugh is highly regarded, but in my view, he has his work cut out for him. This report will discuss noteworthy free agent signings, team draft needs, and presumed depth, by position.

QB: As long as he’s healthy, the Chargers are set at quarterback, as QB Justin Herbert is one of the NFL’s finest. The team has signed QB Easton Stick as their #2 backup, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in him. If they draft a quarterback, it would only be a late-round flier, and I’m not so sure about that.

RB: Versatile RB Austin Ekeler is gone. To replace him, the Chargers have signed a duo of former Ravens’ running backs. 6-3, 240 pound RB Gus Edwards is a pounder and represents a likely heavier emphasis on the running game. RB J.K. Dobbins is solid, fast, and represents a reliable change-of-pace from the brute force of Edwards. While I don’t think they’re done looking for help, both signings seem like decent ones, although Dobbins health/durability is a potential issue.

WR: This is an area where the team continues to have serious needs. Unsurprisingly, WR Mike Williams is now a Jet and surprisingly, WR Keenan Allen is a Chicago Bear. Allen had his best season in 2023, but the Chargers wanted him to restructure his contract. When he declined, they dumped him. I don’t feel that they did Keenan right, and if he’s pissed, he should be. At this point, we’ve got WR Josh Palmer as their #1 wideout and WR Quentin Johnston as their Mike Williams-like deep threat. While both have exhibited flashes, I view them more as backup wideouts, so they’ll need to step up in 2024. This will be a major area of emphasis in the draft. Don’t be shocked if the Bolts take Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison, Jr. in the #5 slot, although I think the could trade down and get a lot for that pick.

TE: This is another area where the team is lacking. TE Donald Parham, Jr. isn’t bad, but I don’t see him as an every-down starter. TE Gerald Everett has joined WR Keenan Allen and is now a Bear. In free agency, the Chargers have signed former Seahawk TE Will Dissly and former Panther TE Hayden Hurst, but I feel like they need to improve at the position via draft. I’d love to see them draft TE Brock Bowers out of Georgia, but I doubt he’ll be available if they grab a wide receiver early on.

PK: The Chargers have re-signed PK Cameron Dicker "the Kicker", who is solid, so they’re set there.

DEF: The Chargers are lacking in depth on defense, and in my view, things aren’t any better so far this year. So draft picks may include corner, defensive line, edge rusher, you name it. Free agent signings so far are not especially noteworthy or splashy, so expect to see quite a few defensive players selected in the upcoming draft. I’ll be back soon after the draft with an analysis of the Chargers 2024 draft selections.

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