With the season concluded and the staff in place, the Chargers turn their attention to building the 2026 roster and pursuing a postseason run beyond the AFC Wild Card round.
Offensive line issues remain a major concern for Herbert. He was sacked 54 times this season, ranking third in the league, underscoring the need for significant protection upgrades.
Los Angeles will enter the 2026 cycle with the 22nd overall pick and roughly $94 million in cap space, providing ample room to pursue upgrades along the line. ESPN projects the team could deploy a substantial portion of that cap space to sign a high-impact guard such as Isaac Seumalo, who is entering free agency.
Seumalo is viewed as a quality pass protector, boasting a 96.9% pass block win rate and a 78.5 PFF grade last season, ranking among the better guards in the league. If signed, he would bring veteran stability to the line that protects Herbert, who has already benefited from players like Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater on the edges.
Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are expected to return to help bolster the exterior protection for Herbert next season, complementing the new coaching staff and any interior upgrades the team pursues. The Chargers’ recent coaching changes come as Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the club’s offensive line troubles and the need for a fresh start after two disappointing playoff performances, including a statement that the team must improve the line to maximize Herbert’s performance.
