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In his first season at the helm, coach Jim Harbaugh delivered something Chargers fans had long been waiting for—playoff football. They saw a reenergized team and an identity grounded in physicality. The Chargers punched their ticket to the postseason and restored hope for a franchise stuck in mediocrity. Harbaugh’s signature mix of power football, discipline, and aggressive defense brought new life to the locker room. 2025 was supposed to be the year this team took the next step.
However, while momentum is on their side, the Chargers’ front office made a few curious moves. More accurately, they had non-moves this offseason. One of those could significantly threaten their trajectory.
After making the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first season as head coach, there’s plenty of excitement around the Chargers for 2025 and beyond. That said, you have to wonder if they did enough this offseason to maximize their winning window.
Re-signing Teair Tart and Khalil Mack were smart moves. That’s especially true considering they would release Joey Bosa and lose Poona Ford and Morgan Fox to free agency. After finishing among the top defensive units last season, the Chargers now face the daunting task of replacing multiple front-line contributors. That also puts pressure on rookies Kyle Kennard and Jamaree Caldwell to step up early in their careers.
Where Los Angeles could take a step forward is on the offensive side of the ball. They averaged just 4.1 yards per carry (24th in the NFL) and a disappointing 2.67 yards after contact per rush (27th) last season. That’s why they brought in not one, but two new backs. They got free agent Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are betting big on restoring a power run game reminiscent of Harbaugh’s days in San Francisco and Michigan.
The Chargers also added intriguing receiving options: Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and Oronde Gadsden II. They should complement second-year standout Ladd McConkey. With these pieces in place, quarterback Justin Herbert has more weapons than ever. The offense looks poised to improve in 2025. However, that may not be enough to offset what was lost on the other side of the ball.
Here we’ll try to look at the riskiest move that the the Los Angeles Chargers executed in the 2025 NFL offseason.
The decision that could haunt the Chargers this season wasn’t who they added, but who they let go—and failed to replace.
Joey Bosa may have struggled with injuries in recent years. That said, when healthy, he remained one of the most disruptive edge defenders in football. Letting him go to create cap space wasn’t inherently the problem. The riskiest move was what came (or didn’t come) after. Despite holding a premium first-round pick, the Chargers passed on elite edge rusher James Pearce Jr in the draft. They opted instead for running back Omarion Hampton.
That’s not just a philosophical misalignment—it’s a strategic risk. In an offseason where...
