Could Austin Romaine be the next great Chargers linebacker?
Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine’s dominance as a run defender, instincts, and relentlessness make him among the top linebackers in the nation. He’s an enticing mid-round option for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2027 NFL Draft and would instantly elevate a struggling unit.
Romaine was a productive player at Kansas State for three years, totaling 184 tackles, before transferring to Lubbock. There, he’s had a spectacular season, highlighted by a dominant Week Four performance against Sam Houston State, where he racked up two pick-sixes (on consecutive plays) and eight tackles.
Despite making headlines for his interceptions, Romaine’s best trait is his run defense. He’s ultra-instinctive and has an excellent downhill trigger. The six-foot-two, 240-pound senior is a rapid accelerator and is fearless, entering contact with violent intentions. He frequently meets the ball carrier at, if not before, the line of scrimmage. He excels at navigating through a defense and filling gaps.
Romaine’s ultra-instinctiveness also plays a role in this. He has an uncanny ability to not only locate the ball but also predict the offense’s intentions before the snap. This stems from his high IQ, as he is the green dot recipient for the Red Raiders’ defense (meaning he’s in communication with the coach). He’s an excellent leader and is a future team captain.
Beyond this, Romaine’s relentlessness separates him from the competition. He plays through, and sometimes after, the whistle and doesn’t give up on plays. Oftentimes, he can be seen sprinting to plays happening across the field. As a result, he can make game-saving plays in pursuit. This is the attitude a defensive coordinator will fall in love with.
As with any player, Romaine isn’t a perfect prospect, particularly in two areas: tackling and pass coverage.
Romaine’s tackling was awful at Kansas State and has improved, but still a weakness at Texas Tech. He has a 20.6% missed tackle rate in his career and struggles to bring players down in open space. This makes him a frustrating prospect at times, as he’s in position but blunders on the tackle.
Another inconsistent area for Romaine is his pass coverage. The flashes are clearly there, as in his week four performance, but he needs to improve in man coverage. He doesn’t have the speed and agility to stay with shifty players, creating big plays for an offense. Like his tackling, this has improved in 2026, but it is still something to watch.
Regardless of these flaws, Romaine should be a target for the Chargers. Daiyan Henley has star potential, albeit he must be consistent; however, they lack options outside of him. This has been evident early in 2026 and can’t persist in future years. Because of this, they must bolster the unit next offseason and add talent in the 2027 NFL Draft.
It’s still early, but don’t be surprised to hear Austin Romaine’s name floating around Los Angeles next offseason. He’s an intriguing pairing with the Chargers and could elevate Jesse Minter’s defense for the foreseeable future.
