Who is most important to the Chargers’ success in 2026? Counting down 20 through 11
NFL Offseason
2026 Training Camp DatesNFL Minicamp StorylinesRams O-line QuestionsRavens Most Pressing IssuesMarShawn Lloyd & PackersAnalysisWho is most important to the Chargers’ success in 2026? Counting down 20 through 11
First-round pick Akheem Mesidor should contribute to the Chargers as a rookie. Kevin Terrell / Getty Images
By Daniel PopperJune 24, 2026 8:00 am EDT UpdatedWelcome to my annual rankings of the 20 players most important to the Los Angeles Chargers’ success in 2026.
This will be Part 1 of the rankings, counting down players 20 to 11. Part 2 will come out next week, counting down the top 10.
Some background before we dive: These are not necessarily the 20 best players on the Chargers roster. Instead, these are the 20 players I think will have the biggest impact on how the Chargers perform in Year 3 under coach Jim Harbaugh. It is an exercise more geared toward finding the pressure points of the roster. Where do the Chargers need to see improvement? Who are they relying on? Where can they least afford injuries or performance regression?
Onto the rankings.
All statistics courtesy of TruMedia unless otherwise noted.
Chargers minicamp takeaways: Justin Herbert makes noticeable changeDaniel Popper20. DL Dalvin Tomlinson
The Chargers signed Tomlinson in free agency to replace Da’Shawn Hand, who played 451 defensive snaps in 2025. Hand was very reliable against the run last season, but Tomlinson, at 6-foot-3, 335 pounds, provides a much bigger frame. As defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary said of Tomlinson earlier in the offseason, “You got to double-team him in the run game, and he’s had a lot of experience beating double-teams on his own.”
Under previous coordinator Jesse Minter, the Chargers played frequently with light boxes, meaning fewer defenders close to the ball. The Chargers often aligned with two deep safeties and devoted more resources to the pass defense. O’Leary is a Minter disciple. Structurally, his defense will be very similar. Tomlinson’s size and strength could elevate the Chargers run defense in these lighter boxes. Last season, the Chargers ranked 18th in defensive rushing success rate when defending in light boxes.
19. LG Jake Slaughter
The Chargers drafted Slaughter in the second round in April. I am expecting him to win the starting left guard spot in training camp. Slaughter was exclusively a center in college at Florida, so he is making a position switch as he enters the NFL. That transition was already underway this spring as the Chargers held OTAs and minicamp at The Bolt. The real test for Slaughter will happen when the pads come on during training camp and the contact picks up.
Left guard feels like a leverage point with this offensive line. The other four starting positions are set: LT Rashawn Slater, C Tyler Biadasz, RG Cole Strange, RT Joe Alt. The spot up for grabs is left guard. If Slaughter works out, the group comes together. If Slaughter does not work, the Chargers will be turning to Kayode Awosika or Trevor Penning.
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18. CB Cam Hart
The Chargers did not make any significant changes to their cornerback room this offseason as O’Leary took over for Minter. They added two undrafted free agents in Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley. That is it. The result: The Chargers are banking on continued development from some of their young cornerbacks.
I think Hart is the player who has the potential to make the biggest improvement for a couple of reasons. One, Hart did not have a full offseason in 2025 because of a shoulder injury. Two, Hart’s athletic traits give him true No. 1 corner upside.
“When Cam Hart gets his hands on somebody at the line of scrimmage, he’s elite,” O’Leary said.
It’s a pretty interesting situation. Minter was consistently able to get the most out of his players on defense, and that was particularly true in the cornerback room. Position coach Steve Clinkscale remains on staff. Will O’Leary, as a play caller, get the same level of play from the group? Generating a developmental jump from Hart would be a big step toward achieving that.
17. Edge Akheem Mesidor
Last season, the Chargers learned the hard way how important it is to have three quality edge rushers in this defensive scheme. They lost Khalil Mack to an elbow injury in Week 2. They went 1-2 over the next three games, including a pretty ugly defensive performance in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders. Two days later, they traded for Odafe Oweh. Mack returned in Week 7, and once the Chargers had Mack, Oweh and Tuli Tuipulotu all playing together, the defense took off.
The Chargers did not make the same roster mistake in 2026. Oweh signed with the Commanders in free agency. The Chargers immediately replaced him with Mesidor, a first-round pick. The trio of Mack, Tuipulotu and Mesidor has a chance to be special. Mesidor and Tuipulotu can rush effectively from the interior, which gives O’Leary some room for creativity as he schemes up pass-rush packages.
Beast Breakdown: Akheem MesidorNick Baumgardner16. DL Justin Eboigbe
Eboigbe finished 2025 with a career-high six sacks despite not being a focal point of the Chargers’ third-down pass rush plan. Earlier this offseason, defensive line coach Mike Elston said that will change in 2026. Last season, Eboigbe had 55 pass-rush snaps on third down. Of those 55, 32 came during a five-week stretch when Hand was on IR with a groin injury. Hand was really the interior defensive lineman who played in pass-rush situations, including in the three-edge packages with Mack, Tuipulotu and Oweh.
It sounds like Eboigbe is going to be that player in 2026. If he can provide some real juice in those packages with Mack, Tuipulotu and Mesidor, that will only elevate how dangerous the Chargers are in known-passing situations.
15. WR Quentin Johnston
The Chargers obviously believe in Johnston as part of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s system. They picked up Johnston’s fifth-year option for 2027, which will pay him $18 million guaranteed. Just for reference, an $18 million average per year ranks 25th among NFL receivers, according to Over the Cap. The Chargers feel as though Johnston will be worth that money come 2027.
I see a ton of potential for Johnston in this offense. McDaniel prioritizes yards after the catch in his passing scheme. He wants the ball into the hands of receivers as fast as possible. This is great news for Johnston, who is most dangerous in these situations. I do not believe any Chargers offense has truly taken advantage of this part of Johnston’s skills. Johnston has improved greatly as an outside-the-numbers player. But that is not the strength of his game. McDaniel could unlock Johnston.
The Chargers are betting on Quentin Johnston to produce in Mike McDaniel’s offense. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)14. TE Charlie Kolar
Kolar signed with the Chargers in free agency. He was a priority addition for McDaniel’s offense. Kolar is athletic and physical as a run blocker. His movement blocking fits well into the outside zone-heavy rushing scheme that McDaniel prefers. Kolar, however, offers more than just run blocking. He has untapped potential as a pass catcher, and that upside is a big reason he appears so high on this list.
While with the Baltimore Ravens, Kolar was playing behind tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. He was the third option at his position in the passing game. Kolar is going to be more involved in the passing game with the Chargers, even with Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku in the room. I view Kolar as a complete tight end, and I think he will make significant impacts in the running and passing games in 2026.
13. S Elijah Molden
Molden is an essential piece in this defense because of how the Chargers like to use Derwin James Jr. O’Leary has said multiple times this offseason that he plans to keep using James as a nickel and dime player, aligning him close to the line of scrimmage. In these areas of the field, James can impact the game as a blitzer and run defender. He loses some of that impact when he is playing as a true safety.
Molden is a general on the back end. He is smart and instinctive. He is one of the Chargers’ best communicators. And he has been an underrated component in James’ resurgence over the past two seasons. Molden suffered multiple injuries at the end of 2024. He was not fully back in practice until well into training camp in 2025. He then battled a hamstring injury early in the year. Molden is healthier this offseason and was a full participant through spring practices.
12. CB Donte Jackson
This is every active NFL cornerback with more career interceptions than Jackson: Jalen Ramsey.
That’s it. That’s the list.
Jackson had four interceptions in his first season with the Chargers in 2025, bringing his career total to 23. He is a certified ball hawk. And Jackson was still able to produce last season, even though the Chargers were heavily rotating their corners. He is a good fit in this defense because of his savvy instincts in zone coverage. Jackson is the Chargers’ most reliable cornerback, and he should be playing a full-time role in 2026. The rotation last season was always pretty puzzling, with cornerbacks coming in and out of the game from one series to the next. Jackson should be on the field at all times, and I think O’Leary will lean away from the rotation the Chargers were using last season.
11. C Tyler Biadasz
It’s hard to overstate the improvement the Chargers will experience at center this season going from Bradley Bozeman to Biadasz. The Commanders moved on from Biadasz in February. The Chargers pounced and signed Biadasz even before free agency officially began. As a cut player, Biadasz was free to sign immediately. The speed with which the Chargers moved was evidence of how badly they needed an upgrade at this position.
Competent center play will be game-changing. Biadasz would be even higher on this list, but the Chargers now also have a good backup option in Slaughter. The Chargers had zero viable options in 2025. They have two in 2026. They addressed this roster weakness pretty decisively this offseason.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
