Chargers Urged to Address Offensive Line in NFL Draft

Franchise has over $45 million in cap space but has been quiet in free agency

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:17am

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A fragmented, multi-angled painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy blue, powder blue, and gold representing the chaos and pressure faced by the Chargers' offensive line.A conceptual illustration depicting the Chargers' offensive line struggles, with the play broken down into a cubist, geometric composition.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a puzzling team to follow this offseason, with the franchise sitting on over $45 million in cap space but making minimal moves to address their offensive line issues. Quarterback Justin Herbert faced a pressure rate of 43.3% last season, one of the highest in the NFL, and the Chargers are being urged to prioritize upgrading their offensive front in the upcoming draft.

Why it matters

The Chargers have a talented roster led by Herbert, but their inability to protect the quarterback has been a major hindrance. Improving the offensive line is crucial to unlocking the full potential of the Chargers' offense and giving Herbert more time to make plays downfield.

The details

The Chargers have been relatively quiet in free agency this offseason, despite having ample cap space to work with. This has led to concerns that the team is not doing enough to address its offensive line issues, which were a significant problem last season. With Herbert facing a pressure rate of 43.3%, one of the highest in the NFL, the Chargers are being urged to prioritize upgrading their offensive front in the upcoming NFL Draft.

  • The Chargers currently have over $45 million in cap space as of April 2026.

The players

Justin Herbert

The Chargers' starting quarterback, who faced a pressure rate of 43.3% last season, one of the highest in the NFL.

Los Angeles Chargers

The NFL franchise based in Los Angeles, California, that has been quiet in free agency despite having ample cap space to address their offensive line issues.

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What’s next

The Chargers will have the opportunity to address their offensive line issues in the upcoming NFL Draft, where they will be urged to prioritize selecting players who can improve the protection for quarterback Justin Herbert.

The takeaway

The Chargers' inability to protect their star quarterback Justin Herbert has been a major hindrance to the team's success, and they will need to make significant investments in their offensive line this offseason to unlock the full potential of their offense.