The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Los Angeles Chargers will likely look to add at least one more piece for their stretch run. At 4-3, the team is only one game out of the AFC West and has the talent to make a deep postseason run. However, there are some weaknesses on the roster that need to be addressed.
READ MORE: Chargers Bye Week Roundup
Five Players the Los Angeles Chargers Could Trade For
1. Brandin Cooks
When you share a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, you need to make sure that you have enough offensive firepower to keep up with anybody in a shootout. Right now, the Chargers lack that explosiveness. Mike Williams is expected to miss at least four weeks with an ankle injury, and Keenan Allen has battled a hamstring issue throughout the season. Cooks isn’t the player he once was, but he’s still an above-average receiver, and his deep speed is a perfect match for Justin Herbert’s rocket arm.
2. William Jackson
Cornerback J.C. Jackson will not have a chance to salvage his first season in Los Angeles. The big-money free agent is done for the season, making an already-weak secondary all the weaker. William Jackson may not be an All-Pro, but he’s a reliable starter that appears to be sick and tired of life with the Washington Commanders. He shouldn’t cost too much in draft capital and he could solidify a secondary that needs an influx of talent.
3. Cam Akers
Austin Ekeler is a star, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Joshua Kelley is on the injured reserve with a knee injury, meaning that the Chargers are an Austin Ekeler injury away from starting Sony Michel. Akers has not played well this year, but a change of scenery might bring out the best in the former second-round pick. If nothing else, it can’t hurt to bring in some competition for the backup running back spot.
4. Chase Claypool
From a skill set standpoint, Chase Claypool is very similar to Mike Williams. On paper, both guys have bigger builds and should be able to win contested situations downfield. Claypool has all the physical traits in the world, but he has yet to put it all together. If the Chargers actually expect Williams to be back to his old self in four games, this trade wouldn’t make much sense. However, if there is some worry about the long-term stability of the ankle, then Claypool is the best one-for-one replacement the Chargers are likely to find on the trade market.
5. Isaiah Wynn
Rashawn Slater tore his bicep back in Week 3 and will not be on the field at any point in the immediate future. While he has a chance of returning for the postseason, the Chargers need to actually address the position and get an adequate starter on Justin Herbert’s blind side. Isaiah Wynn is having a subpar year in New England, but that could largely be because he’s playing out of position. The Patriots flipped him to the right side of the offensive line, and he hasn’t been able to pick up the inverted techniques required for the position. If brought back to his native left side, then he should be able to play at an adequate level.
