2026 Los Angeles Chargers in Three Players
The offseason is upon us. Let's take a look at all 32 teams.
We are onto the 19th edition of our offseason series!
Instead of reviewing all 32 drafts and adding casual commentary, I will be doing this instead.
We will go through every single team, in alphabetical order, and quickly discuss three players:
a favorite free agent signing
a favorite draft pick
and a player already entrenched on the roster
Not necessarily the best, or the top, or the one's who will play the biggest role, just one of choice.
The Los Angeles Chargers are up.
Free Agent Signing
RB Keaton Mitchell
Mitchell went undrafted in 2023 and signed to the Ravens, where he has spent the first three years of his career. He totaled 767 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 6.3 yards per carry.
Mitchell tore his ACL, as well as his LCL, PCL, and hamstring in late 2023. This heavily impacted his 2024, where he did not return until Week 10, and only saw carries in the final two games of the season.
The Chargers signed Mitchell to a 2 year, $9.25m contract this offseason.
Here is a cut-up of Mitchell's best explosive runs from 2025.
Keaton Mitchell comes to the Chargers along with OC Mike McDaniel, as apart of a new look Chargers offense and run game.
Other notable names McDaniel brought along are FB Alec Ingold, who played under McDaniel for four seasons. And TE Charlie Kolar, who blocked for Mitchell the last three years in Baltimore.
The Chargers ran just over 50% of their run plays to the outside, which ranked 16th in the NFL. McDaniel's Dolphins, on the other hand, ran 63.7% of their runs outside the tackles, 2nd in the league.
A notable change is coming the Chargers running game, and Keaton Mitchell may be at the head of it.
Here are some more Chargers rushing stats from 2025:
14th in explosive run rate
18th in success rate
16th in yards after contact
27th in stuffed run rate
Keaton Mitchell had a 17% explosive run rate, while 2025 rookie 1st rounder Omarion Hampton sat at 11%.
Mitchell's calling card is speed and hitting the holes aggressively.
One thing about him is that he will make his decision quickly. Sometimes Mitchell is too eager to bounce the run outside and just try to outrun the defense, but it does work. And with McDaniel's run scheme, he will likely get the opportunity to do this quite often.
Mitchell's burst and speed helps with chunk gains, but it gives him tackle breaking ability as well. He averaged 3.8 yards after contact, which would place him 4th in the NFL had he qualified. His speed forces defenders to try and arm tackle, and Mitchell just runs through them.
Mitchell has never been a workhorse, but that's why Omarion Hampton was drafted in the 1st round. Mitchell is here to keep Hampton's workload light while provides explosive plays.
In terms of receiving, Mitchell's career workload is far too light to judge him, positively or negatively. While Hampton is a bigger back, he does have soft hands. Although his pass protection wasn't great as a rookie, he has the size to do so, while Mitchell, at just 5'9 190lbs, does not. So expect Hampton to see the receiving down work.
Keaton Mitchell is not here to steal the show from Omarion Hampton, but rather to execute the outside zone plays that Mike McDaniel wants to run at a high level. With his speed, the majority of Mitchell's career carries have been outside zone, unlike Hampton.
This was a nice signing for a back who provides exactly what the Chargers offense needs.
Draftee
OL Jake Slaughter
Los Angeles made Slaughter the 63rd pick of this years' draft out of the University of Florida.
Slaughter started 34 games over his final 3 seasons at Florida, all at center.
Here is a cut-up of Slaughter's 2025, courtesy of @BengalsBrews on Twitter/X.
The Chargers offensive line was their biggest issue in 2025, with both All-Pro tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt missing the majority of the season.
Pass protection was particularly rough in 2025, giving up the second most pressures and sacks across the NFL.
Both Slater and Alt are back and healthy, and Los Angeles added veteran center Tyler Biadasz, giving him a 3 year, $30m contract in free agency.
Meaning if Jake Slaughter contributes as a rookie, it will likely be at guard.
Other potential starters at guard include Cole Strange, Kayode Awosika, and Trevor Penning.
Strange followed McDaniel from Miami, where he made 14 starts at RG in 2025. Awosika started 4 games in 2025 for Detroit at LG. And Penning was traded to LA midseason and ended up making 4 starts, playing mostly LG.
Slaughter has great technique that shows up in the run game. He can turn defensive tackles around, knows how to gain leverage with his body and with his feet, finding a way to get in position to carve out a hole.
He is incredibly light on his feet, Slaughter moves very well. It shows in his testing numbers as well.
Slaughter comes in at just over 300lbs, a bit lighter for an NFL guard. He did struggle at times to move defenders at Florida.
If he had to drive block, the defender isn't always getting moved. He occasionally struggled against more powerful bull rushers.
Strength was not a major problem at the college level, but against NFL bodies, it could come into play.
I think Slaughter will be McDaniel's preference to start at LG, as his athleticism gives him an advantage to block in an outside zone running scheme. But, the Chargers did bring in multiple options, so I assume there will be a legitimate competition.
Slaughter will have to find his home at guard, because it is likely Biadasz has the starting center spot locked up for at least the next two seasons.
In-House Player
DB Elijah Molden
Molden was a 3rd round pick of Tennessee's in 2021 and has started 24 games over the last two seasons for the Chargers.
He had 52 tackles and an INT last season.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Molden's 2025 season.
The Chargers secondary has been reconfigured over the last two seasons around the centerpiece of All-Pro Derwin James Jr.
Two 2024 5th round picks starting on the outside in Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
Veteran Donte Jackson is signed last offseason and starts the majority of the games on the perimeter, mostly in place of Hart.
Veteran safety Tony Jefferson retired after 2022, then starts 12 games over the last two seasons for LA, and is the primary starting safety alongside Molden.
Molden himself made a bit of a position change, going from mostly a slot corner to a true safety.
I do not think Molden plays a groundbreaking role in the Chargers defense.
I also do not think the loss of DC Jesse Minter effects Molden's role on the defense. While Minter is a big loss, new DC Chris O'Leary coached with Minter in 2024.
Molden isn't some star player, but he is a part of why the Chargers defense ranked top 10 in each of the past two seasons.
He has good downhill range as a tackler, working his way into the muck and contributing.
Molden's speed can leave the defense a bit vulnerable if he is patrolling center field, but he's generally good in coverage. He can hang in man to man, and can read the QB well in zone coverages.
There is not much to say about Molden other than he's a good piece of this secondary. He and James Jr have the versatility to move around all areas of the secondary, and even in the box, allowing O'Leary to have some flexibility.
Chargers fans should also be hoping Tony Jefferson's age does not show, because while Molden is good, he does not have the capability to make up for a poor backfield partner.
Thanks for reading through our 19th edition of previewing all 32 teams in 3 players! We are working our way to be completed by the time the preseason begins!
Let me know who else on the Chargers is worth monitoring this season, good or bad!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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