At 0-5, is it Time for Chargers Look Toward the Draft?

It is hard to believe how quickly things have fallen apart for the Los Angeles Chargers. After another disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the Chargers are now 0-5 and facing some serious questions about the direction of the franchise. With the playoffs already looking like a long shot, it is fair to wonder whether the team should start looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft.

And there is one name that makes the idea particularly enticing: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Smith is one of the most exciting NFL Draft prospects on the horizon. Adding a player with his size, physicality and playmaking ability to an offense that has struggled to find consistency would be a dream scenario for Justin Herbert and the Chargers. But is the possibility of landing Smith worth considering a lost season?

The Chargers have invested heavily in trying to build a winning team around Herbert, but the offense has looked completely lost through the first five games. The offensive line has struggled, the receiving corps has failed to consistently make plays and Herbert is having one of the worst stretches of his career.

Smith could immediately give this offense the type of game-changing receiver it desperately needs. At around 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, he has the physical tools to win contested catches while also possessing the ability to separate and create plays after the catch. For a quarterback like Herbert, having a receiver who can consistently win downfield and make difficult catches would be a massive addition. Smith has the potential to become the kind of centerpiece that changes an offense for years to come.

Of course, there is no guarantee the Chargers would land him even with a top draft pick. Other struggling teams will have their own needs, and Smith could be in contention for the first overall selection. There are also questions about whether he will be eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, as he would need to meet the NFL’s eligibility requirements. Still, the possibility of adding a talent like Smith is certainly intriguing.

This is where things get complicated. There is a difference between recognizing that a season is slipping away and actively trying to lose games. At 0-5, the Chargers need to be realistic about their situation. Sunday’s loss to Denver was another example of a team that cannot consistently get out of its own way, with turnovers and offensive struggles once again proving costly.

If the Chargers continue playing this way, they could find themselves picking near the top of the draft without having to intentionally tank. That is the ideal scenario if the season truly is beyond saving.

The coaching staff should still be trying to win every game. Herbert needs to get back on track, young players need to develop and the organization needs to figure out whether its current offensive approach can work. Losing on purpose would accomplish none of those things.

However, that does not mean the front office should ignore the bigger picture. If the losses continue piling up, the Chargers should prioritize evaluating their younger players, identifying roster weaknesses and making decisions that benefit the franchise beyond 2026. If the coaching staff cannot turn things around, the organization may also need to seriously evaluate whether changes are necessary.

The Chargers are not officially out of the playoff picture, but an 0-5 start leaves very little room for error. A turnaround is possible, but the team needs to show some signs of life quickly.

Landing Jeremiah Smith would be an exciting possibility and could give Herbert the type of weapon this offense has been missing. But the Chargers should not sacrifice the development of their young players or the integrity of the season just to improve their draft position.

The goal should not be to tank. It should be to find out what this team has, fix what is broken and make sure the next offseason puts the Chargers in a better position to compete. If they keep losing, a high draft pick could be the silver lining to an otherwise disastrous year.

And if that process happens to put a talent like Jeremiah Smith within reach, it would be awfully hard not to get excited about what comes next.