It’s been nearly four months since the Los Angeles Chargers acquired offensive lineman Trevor Penning in a trade with the New Orleans Saints.
The Chargers only had to give up a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft for Penning, but there’s reason to believe Los Angeles fumbled on the trade. Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay believes the Chargers should be given a “D-” as a grade for the trade.
“Penning only started four games for the Chargers and continued the struggles that began in the Big Easy. Per
Pro Football Focus, he finished the season with eight penalties and five sacks allowed across 551 offensive snaps, ranking as one of the worst guards in football,“ Kay wrote.
“Considering offensive-line woes were the Chargers’ ultimate downfall in 2025—the team limped into the playoffs before being decimated by the New England Patriots—the organization should have looked elsewhere for assistance.”
Penning is a free agent, and there’s a chance that he may not return to the Chargers. It isn’t a huge loss for Los Angeles because the team only had to give up a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft, but it’s clear now that the Chargers could have benefited from a different kind of upgrade.
The Chargers should be credited for taking a swing at a position they needed help with, but it’s clear that Penning may not have been the best option for the team.
BFTB community, what do you think of the Penning trade after the fact? Chime off in the comment section below.
