The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away (Tuesday, November 4th at 1 p.m. PT), and for the first time in a while, the Los Angeles Chargers are in an undeniable position to buy. Sitting at 5-3 and tied for second in a tough AFC West, the new regime of GM Joe Hortiz and Coach Jim Harbaugh has this team in the thick of the playoff hunt.

The window in the AFC is always tight, and the time to maximize Justin Herbert's prime is now.

Hortiz has already proven he’s willing to be aggressive, acquiring edge rusher Odafe Oweh from his former team in Baltimore earlier this month. That move shored up the pass-rushing depth, but it shouldn't be his last. The Chargers are a good team, but they are a flawed one. Injuries and a lack of depth at key positions are holding them back from being true contenders.

If the Chargers are serious about making a deep playoff run, they need to get on the phone. Here are two realistic targets they should be calling about before next week's deadline.

The Most Pressing Needs

Before we get to the targets, let's look at the flashing red lights on the dashboard. The needs are not subtle.

1. Running Back: This isn't a "want," it's a desperate "need." First-round pick Omarion Hampton is on Injured Reserve, and veteran Najee Harris is unfortunately out for the year. This has left the backfield in the hands of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins. For a Jim Harbaugh offense built on a physical run game, this is untenable. (Author's note: I think they will either push in at RB or OL but not both, so I'm going with the former.)
2. Defensive Line: The Chargers' run defense has been a massive liability. They are currently ranked 27th in the NFL, allowing a whopping 4.9 yards per carry. To make matters worse, key rotational linemen Da'Shawn Hand and Otito Ogbonnia are also on IR. They desperately need a space-eater in the middle to give their linebackers a chance.

Trade Target 1: The Obvious Fix

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

This is the most logical and widely rumored connection for a reason. The Chargers are "desperate" for a running back, and the 2-5 Browns are in a perfect position to sell.

• Why He's Available: The Browns have a loaded (and younger) backfield with rookie standout Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. Ford has become the clear odd-man-out in Cleveland and is a talented back on a rebuilding team that needs to acquire draft capital.
• The Fit: Ford is a proven, decisive runner who has shown he can carry the load as a lead back. He would immediately step in as the RB1 in Los Angeles, giving Herbert the balanced attack this Greg Roman-led offense is designed for. He’s not a superstar, but he is a legitimate, starting-caliber NFL running back, and the Chargers don't have one on the active roster right now.
• Potential Cost: A 5th-round pick. The Chargers are low on 2026 picks, so Hortiz may have to dip into the 2027 draft pool, but for a plug-and-play starter at your biggest position of need, it's a small price to pay.

Trade Target 2: The Harbaugh Special

DT Dre'Mont Jones, Tennessee Titans

If you want to know what kind of player Jim Harbaugh values, just look at his championship Michigan teams: they were built from the trenches out. The 1-7 Titans are screaming "fire sale" from the rooftops, and they have pieces the Chargers desperately need.

• Why He's Available: The Titans are going nowhere and need to shed veteran contracts in exchange for future assets. Jones is a very good player on a very bad team, and he’s on the kind of contract a rebuilder would love to get off their books.
• The Fit: Jones is exactly the kind of disruptive, high-motor interior lineman that defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's scheme is missing. He’s not just a run-plugger; he has a proven ability to create interior pressure (6.5 sacks in 2022). At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, he can line up across the defensive front and would immediately upgrade the league's 27th-ranked run defense. This is a tough, physical move that has Harbaugh's fingerprints all over it.
• Potential Cost: This one will be pricier. Jones is a high-level starter. It would likely cost a 3rd-round pick or a package like a 4th and a 6th.

The Final Word

The Chargers have a 5-3 record, a franchise quarterback, and a new coaching staff that has instilled a culture of toughness. But the AFC is a gauntlet, and their current roster has clear, exploitable holes. Joe Hortiz has already shown he's not content to sit on his hands. Making a decisive move for a back like Ford or a lineman like Jones could be the very thing that turns this promising playoff team into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.