The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away. Trading ends at 1 p.m. PT on Halloween. Will the Los Angeles Chargers be buyers or sellers? Or neither?
Selling feels unlikely for two primary reasons.
1. The Chargers had massive expectations for this season. The goal was to contend for a championship, and — realistic or not — I do not think that goal has changed despite the 2-4 start.
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2. General manager Tom Telesco is in his 11th season, and coach Brandon Staley is in his third season. They both faced high stakes entering this season. The time to win is now, and the future was always going to be uncertain if 2023 turned into a flop. Considering that, it would not make much sense for the organization to allow this brain trust to make any sort of long-term decision, such as trading away a player for future draft capital.
Telesco has never traded for talent at the deadline in his tenure as general manager, and that should be factored into viewing the Chargers as buyers. Before trading for Khalil Mack in the 2022 offseason, Telesco had made only two pick-for-player trades in his time as GM. Both were conditional seventh-round picks. Both happened before the start of the regular season. The Mack trade was in March. Trading for players at the deadline is just not how Telesco has operated as a team-builder, so it would come as no shock if the Chargers stand pat.
And yet desperate times call for desperate measures. The Chargers have roster deficiencies, and there are potential options on the market to bolster those deficiencies.
“Just like every season, we’ll be there with the other 31 teams trying to do what’s best for your team,” Staley said this week.
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The Chargers need to add a functional run blocker to their tight end room. The run blocking at tight end was an issue last season. It was a roster hole in the offseason. Telesco and Staley did not add any talent to that group through the draft or free agency. And it remains a problem as the Chargers’ rushing attack has stumbled in recent weeks.
The team drafted Tre’ McKitty in the third round in 2021 in hopes that he would develop into a viable run-blocking piece. McKitty has not progressed into that player and was a healthy inactive for the Chargers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. “He just needs to stay on track,” Staley said this week.
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Gerald Everett and Donald Parham Jr., meanwhile, are quality receivers in the passing game but lack consistency as run blockers. Everett is also dealing with a hip injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday.
The Chargers — who have $9.18 million in 2023 cap space after trading away cornerback J.C. Jackson earlier this month, according to Over the Cap — could attack this roster hole in the trade market. Alie-Cox has two years left on a three-year deal he signed with Indianapolis in 2022, but he does not have any guaranteed money on his deal after this season, according to Over the Cap. Alie-Cox is a big body at 6 foot 5, 267 pounds who has provided the most value as a run blocker with the Colts. He would count for less than $3 million on the cap this season if the Chargers traded for him.
The Jets are still in the mix at 3-3. But Uzomah has seen his role diminish this season, especially in recent weeks. Tyler Conklin is getting the most snaps at tight end. The Jets also drafted Jeremy Ruckert in the third round in 2022, and he has played 42 percent, 29 percent and 35 percent of the offensive snaps in the Jets’ last three games.
Uzomah provides depth, but perhaps the Jets would listen to an offer given the recent shift in their tight end usage. Uzomah signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Jets in the 2022 offseason. He does not have any guaranteed money on his deal after this season, according to Over the Cap, and he would count only about $2 million against the Chargers cap if they trade him for this season. With an $11.2 million cap hit for 2024, Uzomah could wind up being a cap casualty for the Jets this offseason. He would not provide the Chargers much juice as a pass catcher. But they are looking for steadiness as a run blocker, and Uzomah would give them that.
Oliver has emerged as one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the league. He was stellar in that phase when the Vikings played the Chargers in Week 3. Minnesota, though, has clawed its way back into the NFC North picture after an 0-3 start, so this could be a long-shot option. The Vikings signed Oliver to a three-year, $21 million deal this offseason, but he does not have any guaranteed money left on his deal after this year, according to Over the Cap. He is exactly the type of tight end the Chargers need, if the Vikings are willing to listen.
Another run-blocking possibility, Swaim signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Cardinals right before the start of training camp. He spent four seasons with Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Dallas — three when Moore was a reserve quarterback and one when Moore joined the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach. So there is familiarity there. Swaim would cost around $1 million against the cap. The Cardinals are 1-6 and should be looking to acquire whatever draft capital they can from a rebuilding roster.
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Chargers starting center Corey Linsley remains on the non-football illness list with a heart-related issue. There has been no firm update on whether the Chargers expect Linsley to play again this season, though he did make the trip to Kansas City. Will Clapp has filled in for Linsley over the past three games, and here is what Staley had to say about Clapp this week: “He’s a consistent player. He really has command of the game plan, communicates really well, and he’s as tough as they come. And so I think when you’re talking about a backup center, he’s given us winning play and given us a chance to compete. … That’s what you want from your backup is he gives you a chance to win every game, and that’s what Will does for us. He’s a stud.”
Center is not a plug-and-play position, of course. Learning a new offense and developing chemistry with the quarterback and fellow offensive linemen are tough factors to overcome for this position specifically. Still, Andrews is an established veteran. The Patriots are 2-5. Andrews does not have any guaranteed money remaining on his deal, according to Over the Cap. This is an interesting scenario to consider if the Chargers believe Linsley will miss the rest of the season — even if the Patriots might not even think about trading away Andrews, a Bill Belichick favorite and one of their team leaders.
With Mike Williams out for the season with a torn ACL, they are in need of a true X receiver who can line up isolated in the formation and win in contested-catch situations. Hopkins fits that mold perfectly. The Chargers did just draft a receiver in the first round in Quentin Johnston, but his game is very different than Williams’ game. Efforts to plug Johnston into Williams’ role have not really worked over the past three games. Hopkins signed a two-year deal with the Titans in July. He does not have any guaranteed money left on his deal, according to Over the Cap. The Titans are 2-4. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is dealing with an ankle injury. Tennessee could be heading for a rebuild.
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The Chargers’ safety depth is in flux with Raheem Layne out for the season with a torn ACL and JT Woods on the non-football illness list. Dean Marlowe, whom the Chargers signed to their practice squad, has exceeded expectations as a fill-in starter over the past three weeks. Plus, starter Alohi Gilman — who was back in practice on a limited basis Wednesday — appears to be making strides in his return from a heel injury that has kept him out since Week 3. The Chargers also claimed safety Jaylinn Hawkins off waivers from the Falcons last week. So safety might not be as pressing a concern. But McKinney is in the final year of his rookie deal and would bolster the safety depth with Layne out and Woods’ status uncertain.
(Top photo of Mo Alie-Cox: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
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