After signing David Njoku, the Chargers’ offense suddenly looks much deeper. But if they want to fully maximize Justin Herbert, adding help at guard and potentially bringing back Keenan Allen could still be the final pieces needed.
The Chargers made one of the more interesting late-offseason moves by signing veteran tight end David Njoku to a one-year deal. After that addition, it suddenly feels like this offense has very few glaring weaknesses.
Between Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, Omarion Hampton, Quentin Johnston and now Njoku, the Chargers have a lot more offensive versatility than they did a year ago. Mike McDaniel should have plenty to work with schematically, especially if the Chargers lean into heavier personnel packages with multiple tight ends.
Still, even with the roster looking deeper, there are a couple of spots where the Chargers could still use another addition before the season starts.
The biggest one is guard.
That position still feels unsettled, and if there’s one thing this team cannot afford, it’s having Herbert constantly dealing with interior pressure. We’ve seen it too many times already. When Herbert is protected, he can pick apart defenses as well as any quarterback in football. When the pocket collapses immediately up the middle, the offense becomes inconsistent.
The Chargers have clearly invested in weapons this offseason, but none of it matters if the offensive line doesn’t hold up. A veteran guard who can stabilize the interior would probably have a bigger impact on winning than adding another flashy skill player.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a star either. Even a dependable veteran who can pass protect and avoid costly mistakes would help this offense take another step forward.
The other spot that still makes sense is wide receiver.
Not because the Chargers are desperate there, but because another veteran presence could make the room feel complete. McConkey looks like a legitimate long-term weapon, and Johnston showed improvement last season, but adding another reliable target for Herbert would raise the floor of the offense.
That’s why bringing back Keenan Allen still makes a lot of sense.
Allen obviously knows the organization, knows Herbert, and has already proven he can thrive in this offense. Even if he’s no longer a true WR1, he’s still one of the better route runners in the league and would give Herbert another dependable option on third downs and in key situations.
There’s also value in having a veteran receiver who understands how to get open consistently. Younger receivers can be explosive, but Allen has always been the type of player quarterbacks trust when they absolutely need a completion.
The Chargers don’t need him to carry the offense anymore. That’s the difference now.
With Hampton expected to help the running game, Njoku giving the tight end room another proven weapon and McConkey continuing to develop, Allen could simply slide into a complementary role and still make a major impact.
Overall, the Chargers have done a good job building depth on offense this offseason. The Njoku signing especially made the unit feel much more complete.
But if they want to fully maximize Herbert and finally make a serious postseason run, upgrading the guard position and potentially bringing back Keenan Allen still feel like the final moves worth making.