ClutchPoints
With the 2025 NFL regular season rapidly approaching, every team is looking to shore up roster holes before games start to count. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the stakes couldn’t be higher. After yet another season of falling short of expectations, new leadership has doubled down on surrounding quarterback Justin Herbert with a stronger supporting cast.
If the Chargers truly want to compete with the AFC’s elite—including Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow—they cannot enter Week 1 with lingering uncertainty in the secondary. Simply put, Los Angeles needs another proven cornerback to stabilize its defense. That’s why one last-minute trade makes more sense than anything else: landing a reliable outside corner before the season opener.
The Chargers’ defensive struggles over the past few seasons have largely stemmed from an inability to consistently cover on the perimeter. Derwin James remains an impact safety when healthy, but relying on him to paper over coverage gaps has led to predictable results. The cornerback group, as it stands, is talented in flashes but riddled with inconsistency.
J.C. Jackson, once viewed as the answer, never lived up to expectations in his first stint with Los Angeles and was shipped back to New England. Michael Davis departed in free agency this past spring, leaving the Chargers even thinner. Ja’Sir Taylor has shown promise, and Asante Samuel Jr. is steady, but neither projects as the true No. 1 lockdown corner this defense desperately requires. In a division where Mahomes, Geno Smith, and the rising Bo Nix are all throwing to strong receiving corps, “good enough” at corner simply won’t cut it.
For a team with playoff aspirations—and one trying to maximize Herbert’s prime years—the time to be aggressive is now.
The Chargers should set their sights on L’Jarius Sneed, who was recently acquired by the Tennessee Titans but remains in contract limbo ahead of the 2025 season. Sneed proved in Kansas City that he can shadow No. 1 receivers, play physically in man coverage, and provide versatility against both slot and boundary assignments.
While the Titans currently roster him, they’re a team in transition. If Tennessee looks toward future draft flexibility instead of doubling down on a pricey veteran corner, they could be persuaded to move Sneed before Week 1. The Chargers, desperate to fill a glaring need, make an ideal landing spot.
Unlike other available corners, Sneed fits the Chargers’ defensive philosophy. His ability to disrupt timing routes complements the pass rush led by Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. If Los Angeles truly wants to slow down Mahomes in pivotal divisional matchups, a tough cover man like Sneed is one of their best bets.
The Trade Proposal
Chargers Receive:
Titans Receive:
This deal strikes a balance for both sides. For the Chargers, the draft capital they’re moving is...
