The history of the Chargers is filled with undrafted free agents who paved their way into the lore of the team by overcoming their lack of draft status to be an impact player. This year, there are several interesting players who I believe have more of an inside shot to make the team’s final roster than others.
Now I’ll be upfront and say I don’t see any players who could work there way into legitimate starter snaps or anything like that in year one, but I would be shocked if none of these players I discuss
below make absolutely zero impressions on the fans and coaching staff in 2026.
With that said, let’s dive right in.
CB Avery Smith, Toledo
The Chargers need a true slot cornerback on the team and Smith is the UDFA corner best suited to fill that role. He was a productive player for the Rockets and had the opportunity to learn behind Quinyon Mitchell, the former first-round pick of the Eagles.
Smith lacks ideal length to play outside corner but he shows good closing speed and instincts in zone. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had him as a projected sixth/seventh-round pick in the draft so the Chargers go good value here with him signing as an undrafted free agent.
EDGE Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
It’s wild to think that the nation’s leading sacker went undrafted this year but that’s just how rare of a case this was for Tucker. He went without a single sack and had just 1.5 tackles for loss during his entire three-year career at Houston before breaking out in a big way this past season at Western Michigan under Chris O’Leary (21.5 TFLs, 14.5 sacks).
Per numerous scouts, Tucker is simply a pass-rush specialist with almost no value as a run defender. There’s a role for him with the Chargers, especially if he can find a way to bypass Kyle Kennard, who was a healthy scratch for most of his rookie season, on the depth chart.
OT Isaiah World, Oregon
I’m not sure where the University of Oregon got this idea that Isaiah World was 6’8, but he was officially listed as 6’5 1/2” at this year’s NFL Combine. That’s still plenty big, but I’m floored at how they ever got away with adding 2.5 inches to his height. Like, wasn’t someone who was 6’6 looking at World thinking they had to be the same height? I have so many questions.
But alas, the Chargers got a great project in World who has a lot of physical traits you cannot coach but just needs the right amount of polish in pass protection to really up his chances of making it at the next level.
LB Lander Barton, Utah
Barton has NFL bloodlines with his father and two brothers also either currently or having played in the NFL. His skillset is one that suits best as a special-teamer at the next level who could potentially find snaps on defense later down the road.
I also like Barton’s chances to make the team also due to the inside linebacker group being rather shallow. When Junior Colson just missed the entire 2025 season after barely playing his rookie season in 2024, it’s tough to even consider him a member of the room you can count on to have this year. Also consider Denzel Perryman’s injuries since returning to the Chargers and that room will get very small very quick.
Barton has a chance to impress as a special-teamer which could put him in a “right place, right time” situation to find further snaps under Chris O’Leary.
C Jacob Spomer, Fresno State
The only reason Spomer wasn’t drafted is due to his size and that he did not play on a team with an overall better offensive line. He held down STARTING LEFT TACKLE DUTIES at 6’3 and 290 POUNDS! That’s an insane lack of size for that position and it speaks volumes about how he is able to use what he has to its fullest potential. In his final collegiate season, Spomer made the transition to center and continued to crush it. He was the highest-graded center in the conference on top of being named First-Team All-Mountain West and allowing zero sacks on his quarterback.
Spomer is a sneaky pick to make the team as the final offensive lineman who could seemingly play any of the interior positions in a pinch.
