The Chargers are heading into year 3 of the Harbaugh/Herbert era which is potentially in line to be the breakout season of the Chargers where the team starts to live up to their dynastic expectations. The offensive personnel of the team has been a big question mark in the first two seasons of the Harbaugh/Herbert era and it has perhaps been the primary factor that has held the team back. However, it is in line to be much better heading into next season. Here I will go into detail assessing the skill position grouping of the Chargers heading into the 2026 season.
Starting with the running back unit of the team the Chargers are in line to have one of the premier groupings in the NFL during this upcoming season. 2025 1st rounder Omarion Hampton had a very strong rookie season which was amongst the best rookie seasons I can remember seeing from any player at any position. Hampton graded as one of the ten best runners of the football among players at his position while still grading in the above average to well above average range as a pass catcher. Hampton was able to do this despite the Chargers’ offensive line which he was running behind being likely the worst in the NFL. Now that Hampton is going into year 2 behind a much-improved offensive line and with the Chargers bringing on Mike McDaniel who is known for building strong run games, Hampton is in line to emerge as one of the premier running backs in the NFL.
The depth that the Chargers have at the running back spot is also very strong as well. They have onboarded veteran Keaton Mitchell who in my estimation could be argued as the premier #2 back in the sport as of now. In Mitchell’s first season in 2023, Pro Football Focus graded him as the best overall running back in the NFL averaging an astounding 8.4 yards an attempt and grading as the 3rd best receiving back in the league as well. It was however in a limited sample size of just 47 rushing attempts and 9 receptions playing for the Ravens’ who have the most running back conducive environment in the sport as well. But regardless, what Mitchell did as a rookie was remarkable, nonetheless. In year 2, Mitchell hardly saw the field as he struggled with his health and in very limited time on the field Pro Football Focus actually graded him as the worst player at his position after grading as the best the previous season. In year 3, Mitchell graded near the bottom of the league but still ran for over 340 yards on a remarkable 5.8 yards an attempt. If Mitchell is healthy and on his A game, I feel as if there are only a handful of running backs more talented than he is. Mitchell is likely the best overall #2 back in the NFL and could be argued as more talented than Hampton even.
Likewise, 2024 6th rounder Kimani Vidal is likely the best overall #3 back in the NFL as well. Vidal struggled as a rookie as one would expect but had a very strong second season. In Vidal’s second season, he graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of both an overall offense grade and a running grade according to Pro Football Focus, although grading below average as a pass catcher. If Vidal can keep it up and improve in terms of catching the ball out of the backfield, he will almost inarguably be the premier #3 back in the sport and could be a #1 back for several teams as of now.
The tight end unit for the Chargers has been a weak point of the team thus far in the Harbaugh/Herbert era as Los Angeles has been forced to just make it work with whatever players they have in the unit. Heading into next season the Chargers project to have one of the better if not one of the best tight end units in the NFL, however. 2025 5th rounder Oronde Gadsden had a solid rookie season where Pro Football Focus graded him as an above average pass catcher at the position. Gadsden is in line to build off of it heading into next year and be a solid player if not more than that for the Chargers next season.
The Chargers have onboarded veteran tight end David Njoku from the Browns this offseason which was a very underrated move in my estimation. Njoku has always been a good but not a great player for the Browns where he has spent his whole career. The Browns have been likely the worst offensive franchise in totality during Njoku’s time there and he likely never got a chance to fulfill his potential as a result. I graded Njoku to be a B- caliber player but perhaps he is more than that. As Njoku now enters elite offensive circumstances with the Chargers, perhaps he can play to his potential and become a star at the ripe age of 29.
The depth that the Chargers have at tight end is also remarkable as they have likely the best #3 tight end in the sport who could be argued as being better than both the first and second players on the depth chart. Charlie Kolar in three of four seasons in the NFL has graded in the well above average to borderline elite range among players at his position albeit in limited snaps. In limited snaps I graded Kolar to be a B+ caliber player, warranting a higher grade than both the players ahead of him on the depth chart.
At wide receiver the Chargers have also left much to be desired in the Harbaugh/Herbert era, but things are looking better heading into next season. 2024 2nd rounder Ladd McConkey is currently listed as the WR1 of the team and is in the discussion for being the best slot receiver in the sport. McConkey had a remarkable rookie season where he graded among the better players at his position despite being a rookie accumulating over 1000 yards on nearly 15 yards a reception. However, McConkey had a sophomore slump type of season where he failed to log 1000 yards despite staying mostly healthy while also grading in the slightly below average range among players at his position. However, the Chargers’ offensive circumstances were very subpar last season and McConkey’s play likely suffered greatly as a result. Now that the Chargers are in line to have much more ideal if not elite offensive circumstances in 2026, perhaps McConkey could break out in year 3 and emerge as one of the premier wide outs in the sport.
Listed as second on the wide receiver depth chart is 2023 1st rounder Quentin Johnston who has underwhelmed thus far in the NFL but has still shown some promise. Johnston as a 1st rounder had a disappointing rookie season but was able to improve in year 2. As a rookie, Johnston graded in the well below average range among players at his position and many were declaring him as a bust. In year 2, Johnston graded slightly above average among all qualified wide outs but still did not live up to nearly his draft hype. In year 3 which was 2025, Johnston was expected to breakout but actually took a small step backwards grading slightly below average among players at his position. Although Johnston has underwhelmed in the NFL thus far, perhaps heading into year 4 with Mike McDaniel now on the staff and the Chargers having stronger offensive circumstances in general will allow him to thrive. As in his potential breakout year in 2025, the Chargers had subpar offensive circumstances in totality in my estimation which likely contributed to Johnston’s subpar season.
Listed as third on the wide receiver depth chart is 2025 2nd rounder Tre Harris who had a solid rookie season that he is in line to build off of going forward. Harris during his time in college garnered a first team All-SEC selection during his last year with Ole Miss which is not easy to do playing in likely the toughest conference in the country. Harris graded in the below average but not well below average range as a rookie which was solid but not spectacular for a first-year pro. If Harris can really improve in year 2 and live up to his potential, perhaps he could presume the Chargers’ #1 wide out role in the form of a big bodied player who can stretch the vertical and sideline portions of the field.
From a depth standpoint in the wide out unit, the Chargers have one very notable name in Derius Davis who could step up for the team given the need Los Angeles has in the unit. Davis, a 2023 4th rounder, struggled as a rookie but played very well in year 2 albeit in limited snaps. Davis graded in the top 25% among all qualified wide outs in year 2 albeit catching just 13 balls. Davis hardly played in 2025 but given his very strong 2024 campaign and his relatively high draft selection for a wide receiver in particular, he could present the Chargers with a strong option in their receiving core.
In totality the Chargers have some question marks from a skill position standpoint heading into next season in particular if not entirely in regards to their wide receiver unit. However, if one of the young high draft picks in the form of Johnston/Harris really up their game and prove to be a legit high level starting wide out who can stretch the sidelines and deep portions of the field, then the Chargers’ skill position grouping could be borderline elite in 2026 and a breakdown can be found below.
Chargers’ 2026 Notable Running Backs
HB1 – Omarion Hampton – B+ so far as 2025 1st rounder, elite rookie season, in line to become a superstar
HB2 – Keaton Mitchell – B+ to A-, ceiling that ranks up there with any running back in the sport, arguably the best #2 back in the NFL
HB3 – Kimani Vidal – B-, perhaps the best #3 back in the NFL
Chargers 2026 Notable Tight Ends
TE1 – Oronde Gadsden – C+ so far as 2025 5th rounder, in line to become a solid player if not more than that going forward
TE2 – David Njoku – B- so far playing for inept Browns, could emerge as a star now going from poor offensive circumstances to an elite one
TE3 – Charlie Kolar – B+ in limited snaps, perhaps the best #3 tight end in the NFL
Chargers 2026 Notable Wide Receivers
WR1 – Ladd McConkey – B to B+, elite rookie season as 2024 2nd rounder, sophomore slump type of year in 2025, could break out in year 3
WR2 – Quentin Johnston – C to C+, has really underwhelmed as 1st rounder, but could still reach his potential and break out next season
WR3 – Tre Harris – C as a rookie 2025 2nd rounder, could break out in year 2
WR4 – Derius Davis – B to B+ in very limited NFL snaps
