With just five picks total in the 2026 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers have as good a reason as ever to trade back for more capital. If accomplished, it will be the first time the Chargers traded back in the first round since 2003 (2004 if you count the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers swap, but that technically wasn’t a trade-down).

Teams with excess draft capital may have the opposite intention. Every year, we see talent-hungry teams use day two and three picks to move up in the first round to get the prospect they covet. This year, that team may be the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City has nine total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two in the second round. For that reason, Chiefs expert and Arrowhead Addict draft expert Matthew Chabot thinks the team may trade up in the first round. And while Conner doesn’t instantly circle the Chargers as a potential trade candidate, he did create a trade package that would be perfect for the Bolts if offered.

Hypothetical trade-back with the Chiefs would be perfect for the Chargers

The original pitch in Chabot’s piece has the Chiefs sending the No. 29 and No. 74 pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the No. 20 pick. However, Dallas could be set on taking a specific prospect with the No. 20 pick, eliminating a trade down. If so, the door opens for the Bolts.

Here’s Chabot’s insight on why the Chiefs may look to move up into the early 20s:

“For the Chiefs, this trade could serve several purposes, but in my opinion, it would likely be to land their favorite defensive lineman in the class. With the Chargers, Bears, Bills, 49ers, and Texans all ahead of them, the Chiefs could look to jump for defensive line help. If the Chiefs feel Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, Keldric Faulk, or Akheem Mesidor could be game-changers, they will be interested in moving ahead of other teams in need of defensive line help.”

The compelling part of the argument is that the Chargers are one of the team’s the Chiefs may want to jump to get defensive line talent. It makes sense, as the Chargers are absolutely in the market for a first-round edge rusher in this year’s draft.

That being said, the Bolts certainly aren’t locked into taking an edge rusher in the first round. And there isn’t one concrete direction the team may look to go. There are multiple options available in the first round, several of which will probably still be available with the No. 29 pick.

If Dallas and Pittsburgh hold onto their picks, and the Chiefs truly are desperate to move up, the Chargers should absolutely look to make a deal with their rival. Sure, it helps the Chiefs land a better player, but it puts the Chargers in a better position to build out the roster. The goal is to build the best roster possible, not to stop the Chiefs from doing so.

The No. 74 pick is a fair price for moving back seven spots and still getting someone worth taking in the first round. Anything more than that would be icing on the cake for the Bolts.