The regular season has come to an end for the Chargers, whom finished the season with an 11-6 record. Now, the attention shifts to the Texans this weekend in the wild card round.
It’s never too early to take a peak ahead to the offseason though, which could begin in as soon as a week. There are five players that the Chargers must re-sign this offseason:
LB Khalil Mack
Set to turn 34 years old in February, Mack turned in another elite season. While his age won’t demand too large of a contract, the Chargers should bring him back on a shorter-term deal with a higher annual number. He’s been elected to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time in his illustrious career, and he’s been a huge reason for the defense’s success in 2024.
RB J.K. Dobbins
Running back remains a need for this Chargers team, and they should most certainly bring Dobbins back next season. The former Raven far exceeded the $1.6 million deal that he signed last offseason. He’ll earn a nicer deal this upcoming offseason, although he still won’t be overly expensive given his injury history. Dobbins finished 2024 with a career-high 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
DL Poona Ford
The Chargers’ defensive line doesn’t have any big names on the interior, but they played well all season long. Ford was the best player up front with his ability to stop the run and clog up lanes for opposing offenses. This may be the biggest priority for the Chargers, as he has been one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL in 2024. Pro Football Focus rated him as the fifth-best defensive lineman this season with a 85.1 overall grade.
CB Kristian Fulton
Add Fulton to the list of bargains that the Chargers capitalized on this season. While Fulton certainly had his low moments, he still was well worth the signing. The veteran was helpful in the run game and started 14 games for the best defense in the NFL. While he was inconsistent in coverage at times, he still made several plays with seven passes defended and an interception.
P J.K. Scott
Why not bring back both J.K.’s? The priority on Scott may not be as high as the others on this list, but he was exceptional this season. He consistently helped the Chargers flip field position, as he finished the season with 28 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
