NFL Free Agency 2025: Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart + Offseason Moves

A new coach can make you nervous. And, as respected as Jim Harbaugh is, there’s always that concern in the back of your mind that things could go sideways. Luckily for Los Angeles Chargers fans, things went about as well as they could as the Chargers made the NFL playoffs despite jettisoning most of their key offensive pieces in the 2024 offseason.

They’ve continued to move on from pieces this offseason as well, including long-time pass rusher Joey Bosa. There is now a lot of hope in that building as they attempt to build on that. They have a lot of holes to fill but they also have the second most cap space of any team to work with.

Let’s look at the offensive weapons in terms of depth chart, contracts, salary cap and free agents to see if we can predict what they might do in NFL free agency. If you play dynasty fantasy football or plan to do your own 2025 NFL Mock drafts, this info should help!

*The salary cap numbers referenced in this article come courtesy of our friends over at Spotrac.com*

Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart 2025 (Fantasy Football Relevant)

• White = unrestricted free agent
• Green = role is safe
• Yellow = role in flux
• Orange = likely a depth piece
• Red = roster spot not guaranteed

Los Angeles Chargers Free Agency 2025

• CURRENT PROJECTED TOP 51 2025 SALARIES: ~$193M
• CURRENT ESTIMATED 2025 TEAM CAP SPACE: ~$91M

Chargers Quarterback Depth Chart

Justin Herbert: Justin Herbert is locked up to a long-term deal. And head coach Jim Harbaugh loves him (possibly a little too much). So, he’s the starter for the Chargers for the foreseeable future. 

In dynasty, this is a guy you just love to have, especially in superflex or two QB leagues where he is stapled into your lineup. He doesn’t often get the hype that guys like Joe Burrow or even Patrick Mahomes get but I think he can offer fairly similar upside. If you can acquire him now before the team loads up on weapons, I would do so. 

Taylor Heinicke: Justin Herbert stayed fairly healthy, and all of the games were meaningful, so we didn’t see a whole lot of backup QB Taylor Heinicke. They have the cap space so, if they like Heinicke, it should be pretty easy for them to bring him back.

Easton Stick: Stick had operated as the Chargers backup and even played a decent chunk of games in 2023. But they were pretty quick to grab Taylor Heinicke as soon as he became available. If no one else is interested in Stick maybe he hangs around the practice squad as the emergency QB3 but there probably isn’t a lot of urgency to bring him back as an unrestricted free agent.

• Reserves/Futures: N/A

CHARGERS QB FREE AGENCY TAKE: Bringing back Heinicke or Stick here makes a lot of sense since they are familiar with the team. But, if they want to make sure they have a high-level option in case Herbert goes down, there are guys with more experience. Here are the options that wouldn’t necessarily want to start that have experience winning in this league.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Taylor Heinicke, Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz

Chargers Running Back Depth Chart

J.K. Dobbins: Believe it or not, the Chargers are in a good spot at running back. They have the money to bring J.K. Dobbins back if they want but they can first consider some other options on the open market if they choose a guy like Najee Harris, Nick Chubb, or Aaron Jones. And, on top of that, this is one of the deepest running back draft classes we’ve seen since 2017.

As for Dobbins himself, the Chargers might be the best landing spot for his fantasy value given their ground and pound approach. He compiled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage despite only playing in 13 games. Injuries have always been the issue for the 26-year-old running back but, in dynasty fantasy football formats, injuries aren’t nearly as important.

If you are playing to win now, you should have a deep enough roster to start Dobbins when he’s healthy and plug someone else in if he’s hurt. Trade some picks if you have to. So, I like the idea of acquiring Dobbins if I can.

Gus Edwards: Gus Edwards has been informed that he will be released which saves the Chargers over $3M. Someone will likely scoop him on the free agent market as the nearly 240 pound back can get you a yard when you need it.

Since he’s been released before free agency, he does not count against the compensatory pick formula, so maybe a team like the Steelers might be interested since they have a lot of outgoing free agents.

Hassan Haskins: The Chargers claimed Haskins after he was cut by the Titans meaning he can be released with zero dead cap and $11M in savings. In his limited capacity, he ran for only 2.6 yards a carry, so there’s a real chance they move on. 

Kimani Vidal: Vidal got a lot of hype in dynasty circles, but he never really got a big chance to show what he can do. He was a stud in his last year at Troy and his workout metrics check out, so this is a guy I’m still holding in dynasty leagues to see how he develops. And how this depth chart shakes out. 

• Reserves/Futures: Jarret Patterson

CHARGERS RB FREE AGENCY TAKE: The Chargers are a run first team with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman - there’s no secret there. And they have the money and draft capital to make an upgrade here. The question is how they do it.

We have plenty of time to speculate about the Ashton Jeantys and Omarion Hamptons of the world if they don’t sign someone in free agency next week. So, let’s look at the top free agent options now and then we’ll dive into the rookies with the next series.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: J.K. Dobbins, Najee Harris, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason (via trade)

Chargers Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Ladd McConkey: He’s not the highest paid wide receiver on the team but he deserves to be first after his performance this year. And you can thank the New England Patriots who, despite needing wide receivers themselves, blessed the Chargers with the pick needed to select McConkey.

There are some folks out there in the dynasty world who believe that McConkey will fall to the wayside if/when the Chargers add weapons. As someone who has personally made that mistake before with Amon-Ra St. Brown, I’m not going to make that mistake again with McConkey. 

He demonstrated that he’s not just a pure slot guy but can play slot in three WR sets and flanker in two WR sets which is exactly how guys like CeeDee Lamb, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Chris Godwin are deployed. I’m buying now from anyone that has any doubts.

Quentin Johnston: After a pretty brutal rookie campaign, Quentin Johnston took a step forward in 2024 with 711 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was a fairly young prospect, so he is still only 23 years old - not every NFL player is a super star right from the rip.

The question now is what happens with this offense. Ladd McConkey is pretty locked into targets. If they bring in one wide receiver or tight end who is a target hog, that could push Quentin Johnston to more of a field-stretcher role. That is fine in best ball or even standard but can be fairly inconsistent week to week in any sort of PPR. If he maintains a full-time role and continues to develop, the upside is there.

Based on that, if you are going to trade him, now is the time to do so. Otherwise, you are holding on for the long haul as they either add someone and his value takes a hit, or they don’t, and you potentially score big.

Joshua Palmer: Palmer will hit free agency here and should garner interest from other teams in a very thin market. I’m often skeptical of players who couldn’t really break out despite playing with a great quarterback. We’ve watched Marquez Valdes-Scantling bounce around between a number of elite QBs with limited success. Because of that, Palmer is a guy I’m not super excited about in fantasy.

Derius Davis: Derius Davis’s roster spot is safe. Why? Because he returned virtually every kick and punt for this team in 2024. That’s a valuable asset and he’s under contract for two more years. 

Brenden Rice: They took a stab in the late round on Brenden Rice, the son of Jerry Rice. And, considering Jerry Rice’s famous work ethic, it’s not a bad idea. Rice had a hard time carving out playing time and then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that landed him on IR. Despite his pedigree, he’s not necessarily a lock to make the roster as he doesn’t contribute much on special teams and can be cut for $900K savings with only $85K in dead cap. 

DJ Chark: DJ Chark was hurt to start the year and then was incredibly unproductive when he did get onto the field. His skillset overlaps directly with Quentin Johnston, so I doubt they bring Chark back for 2025 as an unrestricted free agent.  

Jalen Reagor: The new regime here was trying out a lot of different options. Reagor got a look before suffering a season-ending finger injury. Reagor will likely land with a different team in free agency where he can return kicks as the Chargers have Davis.

Simi Fehoko: Fehoko spent time with the Cowboys before getting a look with the Chargers. He actually had three games where he played over 70% of the snaps including one with 92% which makes his 6 catches on the season a bit of an indictment. He also suffered a season-ending injury and I don’t expect him back as a free agent. 

• Reserves/Futures: Dez Fitzpatrick, Jaylen Johnson

CHARGERS WR FREE AGENCY TAKE: The Chargers are a top candidate to make a pass-catching addition. It could be at wide receiver or tight end or both. The draft is always an option (and we have plenty of time to speculate on that) but we’re here to talk free agency.

Ladd McConkey is your slot/flanker. Quentin Johnston can play split end but would probably be best as more of a field-stretching WR3. That gives them flexibility to bring in a number of different guys outside of “pure slot” players. 

The Chargers have plenty of cap space and they are a competitive team so we can’t rule out the older guys like DeAndre Hopkins or Amari Cooper. Davante Adams playing with Justin Herbert is obviously the most intriguing match. 

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine-Ikhine

Chargers Tight End Depth Chart

Will Dissly: The fact that Will Dissly is still playing football is a miracle. He suffered a patellar tendon tear, an Achilles tear, and a broken leg that Pete Carrol described as one he had “never seen before”. No wonder Jim Harbaugh likes this guy.

He also likes him because he’s a tremendous blocker though he’s not a world-beater in the pass game. If he has any dynasty value at all, I’d try to move him. I think he fits more into the “Nick Boyle” role in Greg Roman’s offense. 

Hayden Hurst: They gave Hayden Hurst a shot. But the story wasn’t much different in LA than elsewhere. He was inconsistent when healthy and he ended up on IR. I imagine they let him walk in free agency as they look for an upgrade. This is a player we’ll always root for because of all the good things he does in the mental health community so hopefully he will find a spot somewhere.

Stone Smartt: Anyone who follows me on X/Twitter @CoopAFiasco knows that I am a fairly biased Stone Smartt fan. When we look for upside from deep on rosters, we look for athleticism. This is a guy who played multiple high school sports including basketball. He was a quarterback who converted to a wide receiver who converted to tight end. That’s the path that Logan Thomas took, a guy who had a TE1 fantasy season.

He’s a restricted free agent and I don’t expect them to tender him at the $3.3M level. I’m stashing him in very deep leagues just to see if he signs on here again or lands somewhere else in free agency. It’s a long shot but how can you not root for Stone Cole Smartt (real name, no gimmicks).

Tucker Fisk: Restricted free agents cost a pretty penny to retain but exclusive rights free agents can be kept for the veteran minimum. The Chargers kept Tucker Fisk as he plays special teams and can also be an inline blocker. He doesn’t have much fantasy upside.

• Reserves/Futures: McCallan Castles

CHARGERS TE FREE AGENCY TAKE: This might be the number one landing spot for a tight end in fantasy football. They have an elite quarterback. They only have one target hog in Ladd McConkey. And Greg Roman has orchestrated a top five all time tight end season with Mark Andrews. Doesn’t get much better

In that year, Mark Andrews ran more than 80% of his snaps from a WR spot. If they draft or sign a free agent who is basically a “big slot” tight end, that tight end would be in a tremendous position to succeed. Here are the best free agent options available for that. The recently released Evan Engram would be by far my favorite pick.  

I know we aren't talked about the draft here but it has to be said - Colston Loveland joining his former college coach Jim Harbaugh to play this role would almost be TOO perfect.

POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Evan Engram, Juwan Johnson, Mike Gesicki, Gerald Everett, Zach Ertz, Stone Smartt