Positions of Need Based on Free Agency
The Chargers will certainly have some roster turnover this offseason, especially with the 30 free agents listed above.
With that in mind, here are a handful of position groups the Bolts might need to focus on in the coming months based on their current free agent list.
(Note: These positions are not ranked but instead listed in alphabetical order).
The Bolts are set at tackle with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior of the offensive line bears monitoring, especially at center.
Bozeman started all 17 games plus the playoff contest and led the Chargers with 1,057 offensive snaps in 2024.
The Bolts could bring him back or look elsewhere to add a starting center. Jaimes, the Bolts backup center this past season, is also slated to be a free agent.
The Chargers could also look guard depth with Mustipher also set to be a free agent.
Ford was one of the Bolts best defensive overall players in 2024 after signing a 1-year deal. But he will have a chance to test free agency again if the Chargers don’t bring him back.
Fox has spent the past three seasons in powder blue and has been a dependable and consistent player. Tart, a training camp addition, flashed at times against both the run and the pass in 2024.
That’s three of the Chargers top four defensive linemen from 2024 who may or may not be back with the Bolts next season.
There’s a reason why defensive line listed often in the first Chargers Mock Draft Tracker.
We’re including outside linebacker and off-ball linebackers here.
First, with Mack slated to be a free agent, the Chargers might potentially need to replace his leadership and production at outside linebacker. If he returns, the Chargers will be once again have a future Hall of Famer on the roster.
Linebacker is a position to watch, too, as four players are scheduled to be free agents.
Perryman was a starter when healthy in 2024 while Dye also started at times this past season. Add in that Niemann and Quarterman are also free agents and the Bolts linebacker room could suddenly be thin behind Daiyan Henley.
Junior Colson could play a more prominent role in 2025 but the Bolts will likely need to add more depth behind those players at some point this offseason.
Both cornerback and safety are lumped together in this grouping.
Fulton provided starting-caliber play at outside cornerback in 2024 after signing a 1-year deal last offseason. Samuel missed nearly all of the 2024 with a shoulder injury. And Apple was reliable when he saw limited action.
Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart shined as fifth-round rookies in 2024 but the Chargers will surely need more depth at this spot going forward.
Derwin James, Jr. and Alohi Gilman are both under contract as the Bolts starting safeties, but keep in mind that James played (and thrived) at more a slot cornerback role under Jesse Minter in 2024.
And with Molden, Maye and Jefferson also set to be free agents, the Chargers will need to replenish the back half of this position group, too.
The Chargers ended the season with four tight ends on the active roster, and only Will Dissly is under contract for 2024.
There are questions around the other three as Hurst will be a UFA while Smartt is a RFA and Fisk is an EFRA.
Tight end was also a popular projection in the first Chargers Mock Draft Tracker, but the Bolts might need to add pieces here to help fill out the room.
Ladd McConkey was a star as a rookie, Quentin Johnston took a step forward in Year 2 and Derius Davis flashed as a receiver while continuing to be a special teams weapon.
Those are currently the only three players on the roster for 2025.
Palmer didn’t play in the playoffs due to injury and is set to be a free agent after he was a 2021 third-round pick.
Chark, a 2024 free agent addition, will also be a free agent after tallying just four catches this past season.
And depth pieces such as Reagor and Fehoko, each of whom had bright moments in 2024, are also slated to hit free agency.
This could be a key area to watch in order to get more weapons for Justin Herbert.