Targeting star David Njoku could solve roster depth concerns as Los Angeles searches for a dynamic playmaker to elevate its offense and fortify a struggling ground game.
The Los Angeles Chargers are in the news for their interest in star tight end David Njoku. And while Njoku has not been the player he once was the last two seasons, the potential is there for him to become an impact player for his next team.
Njoku would be a big get for nearly every team in the National Football League, but certainly the Chargers are among the teams that he could make his mark with immediately. The reason his impact might be greater revolves around the Chargers' real need for a player at the position.
Thomas Martinez of On SI shared why tight end is such a pressing need to improve the 2026 Chargers. Here's what Martinez wrote on why the team may look for an impact tight end over the next few weeks.
"The Chargers have second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II and free agent addition Charlie Kolar set to lead the tight end room. Fullbacks Alec Ingold and Scott Matlock will also be called upon to fill blocking roles, however, Matlock's fit in Mike McDaniel's offense remains to be seen. Carrying two true tight ends and potentially a fullback is not a traditional move for roster construction.
The Chargers could benefit from the addition of another tight end capable of filling multiple roles in the offense. The current depth behind Kolar and Gadsden is limited to undrafted free agents from 2025 and an additional two rookie undrafted free agents in this year's class."
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) is helped off of the field with an apparent injury against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesThe Chargers, as Martinez mentions, did at Charlie Kolar at the tight end position. With Kolar, Los Angeles could certainly make do with what they have. The former Iowa State star made it into the league with a reputation as a playmaker in the passing game. Albeit not everyone views him as that type of player in the NFL.
Kolar's biggest impact for some is supposedly as a run blocker, which is not to be underrated. Run blocking tight ends certainly aid a team's ability to move the football down the field. Given how much the Chargers struggled on the offensive line overall, it makes sense to lean on improvement in every facet of the running game. Even so, if the team wants to reach its potential it may need to add a more dynamic pass catcher at tight end.
We'll monitor what moves the Chargers make over the next few months.