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Sitting in the final wild card spot in the AFC entering Week 9, the Los Angeles Chargers might be looking to add to their roster before the NFL trade deadline.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers are described as “window shopping” for potential deals right now where they are comfortably with their current situation but will “consider” any options that might help them get better.
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has almost quietly coached his unit up to be the best in the NFL by points allowed per game (13.0). The only team that has scored at least 20 points against them was the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
Their level of competition they have played hasn’t been great so far. The Kansas City Chiefs are the only team they’ve gone up against that ranks higher than 14th in points per game, but they are at least taking care of business against opponents they should be able to beat.
The more pressing issue for the Chargers if they are going to make an in-season move is finding a pass-catcher who can help out Justin Herbert.
After being on the injury report earlier this season due to an ankle injury, Herbert has been back at full strength since Week 6 and has started playing much better. He has thrown for 628 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 66.2 completion percentage in his past two games.
The Chargers’ 17 dropped passes this season are tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Ladd McConkey is coming off the best game of his career with 111 yards and two touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints, but another receiver would open things up for the offense.
Per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, the Chargers were among the teams that called the New York Jets about Mike Williams in the aftermath of the Davante Adams trade.
Fowler noted the Jets could decide to hang on to Williams now that Allen Lazard is on injured reserve.
It’s unclear how much of a difference Williams could make for the Chargers at this stage of his career, but he does have an already-established connection with Herbert from their four seasons together as teammates from 2020 to ’23.
Given the number of wide receivers who have already been traded, the market for that position is shrinking with just a few days remaining before the deadline.
The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Chargers could be 5-3 by that point if they are able to defeat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.