Well Chargers fans, we're all thinking the same thing. The Los Angeles Chargers are quickly approaching a point where something has to change. Starting the season 0-5 is not what anybody expected from a team with Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel, and a roster that was supposed to be capable of competing in the AFC.
If the losses continue, general manager Joe Hortiz needs to start thinking about the bigger picture.
That does not mean trading away every good player on the roster or giving up on Herbert’s future. It means being honest about what this team is right now and determining which players could bring back assets that help the Chargers in the long run. Here are three names worth considering if the season continues heading in the wrong direction.
Khalil Mack, Quentin Johnston and Donte Jackson Could Be on the Table
Khalil Mack is the obvious name to watch. Several rumors about his availability have been swarming around.
The veteran pass rusher has been one of the most recognizable players on this defense, but his situation is different from that of a younger player who is still developing.
Mack still has value to a team that believes it can make a legitimate postseason run. A contender could look at him as the missing piece to its pass rush, while the Chargers could potentially get draft compensation in return. That is the kind of move that makes sense if the season is slipping away. Personally, I would not trade Mack just for the sake of making a trade of course. He has experience and leadership that matter, especially for a defense trying to maintain its identity. But if another team is willing to offer something meaningful, Hortiz has to at least listen.
Donte Jackson is another player worth monitoring. Cornerback is a position where playoff contenders are constantly looking for help, and a veteran who can contribute immediately could attract interest from a team dealing with injuries or inconsistent coverage.
Jackson’s contract situation also makes this an interesting conversation. If the Chargers are not going to be competing for anything meaningful this season, they need to consider whether keeping a veteran cornerback makes more sense than turning his value into future draft capital. There is a difference between trading a player because he is not good enough and trading him because the timing makes sense. Jackson does not have to be a bad player for the Chargers to consider moving him. The question is whether his value to a potential buyer outweighs what he could provide during a season that is already going sideways.
Then there is Quentin Johnston, a name that is going to generate plenty of debate among Chargers fans. The Chargers have to figure out whether he is going to become a consistent part of their offense or whether they are simply waiting for something that never materializes. I would not move Johnston for a late-round pick just to clear a roster spot. He is still a player with upside, and moving on from a former first-round selection too quickly can come back to haunt a franchise. At the same time, draft position should not protect anybody from criticism or prevent the team from exploring its options.
If another organization believes it can get more out of Johnston than the Chargers have, a deal could make sense for both sides.
The Chargers Cannot Afford to Waste Another Season
The biggest thing here is that Hortiz needs to approach this situation with a clear plan. Trading Mack, Jackson or Johnston would not magically fix the Chargers, and draft picks are never guaranteed to turn into productive players. Making moves simply because fans are frustrated would be just as shortsighted as refusing to make changes because of preseason expectations.
Herbert is the reason the Chargers cannot afford to waste time. Quarterbacks of his caliber do not come around every year, and the organization has to build a roster that gives him a legitimate chance to compete. If that means turning certain veterans into future assets, then those conversations need to happen.
I still believe the Chargers have enough talent to be better than what we have seen. But if the losses continue, the front office has to stop treating every week like an isolated problem.
At some point, the results have to matter. If this season is going to become a lost one, the Chargers should at least make sure they are putting themselves in a better position for the next. Hortiz does not need to blow up the roster. He needs to identify the players who can help this team win in the future, determine which players might be more valuable to another organization, and make the difficult decisions when the opportunities present themselves.
Because the last thing Chargers fans want is to watch another season slip away without the organization doing anything meaningful to change its direction.
