Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions

In the NFL, trades are high-stakes gambles—they require giving up valuable draft capital or players in exchange for immediate help, with no guarantee of success. For the Los Angeles Chargers, recent seasons have seen a handful of strategic trades aimed at addressing roster gaps, boosting playoff contention, and complementing franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. Evaluating these acquisitions goes beyond just stats; it requires assessing how well each player fit the Chargers’ system, whether they justified the cost, and if they contributed to long-term team success. Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions takes a deep dive into three key trades from 2023–2025, breaking down their wins, losses, and lasting impact on the franchise.

Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions begins with the 2023 trade for defensive tackle Shelby Harris—a low-risk, high-reward move that addressed a critical need in the Chargers’ interior defense. Facing injuries to starting defensive tackles Austin Johnson and Scott Matlock, the Chargers sent a 2024 sixth-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for Harris, a 10-year veteran with a proven track record of run-stopping and pass-rushing versatility. At the time of the trade, the Chargers ranked 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (123 per game); with Harris in the lineup, that number dropped to 108 per game over the final 10 weeks of the season. Harris himself recorded 2 sacks, 18 tackles, and 4 quarterback hits, but his biggest impact was in clogging running lanes—opposing running backs averaged just 3.1 yards per carry when rushing up the middle against him. “Shelby was exactly what we needed,” Chargers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said after the 2023 season. “He’s a professional who stepped in, learned the system quickly, and made plays when we needed them. The cost was minimal, and the return was huge.” While Harris wasn’t a Pro Bowl-caliber player, he provided stability to a banged-up defensive line and helped the Chargers secure a wild-card playoff spot. In hindsight, the trade was a clear win: a late-round pick for a veteran who solved an immediate problem and played a key role in a playoff push.

A second pivotal trade to evaluate is the 2024 acquisition of wide receiver Adam Thielen from the Minnesota Vikings—a move designed to add a reliable second option alongside Davante Adams and support Herbert’s passing attack. The Chargers gave up a 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick for Thielen, who was coming off a 1,034-yard season with the Vikings. Early expectations were high: Thielen’s route-running precision and ability to catch in traffic were seen as a perfect complement to Adams’ deep-ball threat. For the most part, he delivered: in 16 games with the Chargers, Thielen recorded 78 receptions for 854 yards and 6 touchdowns, including a game-winning 25-yard catch in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears. He also emerged as a trusted third-down target, converting 19 of 24 third-down catches (79%), the highest rate on the team. However, the trade wasn’t without flaws: Thielen struggled with drops in high-pressure moments (4 drops in the red zone) and missed two games with a hamstring injury, a reminder of his age (33 at the time of the trade). “Adam was a good addition, but not a transformative one,” said a Chargers front office executive, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He gave us the consistency we needed, but the cost—two draft picks—meant we had to pass on other young talent. It’s a mixed bag: he helped us win games, but we’ll have to replace him sooner than later.” Overall, the trade was a moderate success: Thielen boosted the offense, but the long-term cost in draft capital may limit the Chargers’ ability to address other needs in future seasons.

Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions also includes the 2025 trade for offensive tackle Andre Dillard—a high-cost move aimed at fixing the Chargers’ long-standing pass protection issues for the Los Angeles Chargers. After allowing 42 sacks in 2024 (tied for 18th in the NFL), the Chargers made offensive line a top priority, sending a 2025 first-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Dillard, a former first-round pick who had shown flashes of elite play but struggled with injuries. The trade was controversial: giving up a first-round pick for a player with just 24 career starts was seen as a risky bet. In his first season with the Chargers, Dillard split time between left tackle and right tackle, starting 14 games and allowing 4 sacks—tied for the fewest among Chargers offensive linemen with at least 10 starts. He also graded out at 78.3 by Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest grade on the Chargers’ offensive line. His best performance came in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he shut down Chiefs edge rusher Maxx Crosby (0 sacks, 0 pressures) and helped the Chargers win 27-24. “Andre has been a game-changer for our offense,” Herbert said in 2025. “Having a tackle who can protect my blind side and open up running lanes gives us so much more confidence. He’s worth every pick we gave up.” However, questions remain about Dillard’s durability (he missed two games with a knee sprain) and whether he can maintain his high level of play long-term. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the trade is a “wait-and-see” success: Dillard has addressed an immediate need, but the loss of a first-round pick means the Chargers must hope he becomes a long-term fixture—otherwise, the trade could set back their rebuild.

Another trade worth evaluating is the 2023 midseason acquisition of safety Jayron Kearse from the Dallas Cowboys—a low-cost move that strengthened the Chargers’ secondary depth for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers sent a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for Kearse, a versatile safety who could play both free safety and strong safety, as well as contribute on special teams. At the time, the Chargers were dealing with injuries to starting safety Derwin James Jr., and Kearse stepped in as a reliable backup, starting 5 games and recording 32 tackles, 1 interception, and 2 pass deflections. His biggest play came in the Chargers’ wild-card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he intercepted Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the end zone to stop a potential go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. “Jayron was a quiet hero for us,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said after the 2023 playoffs. “He didn’t get a lot of headlines, but he made critical plays when we needed them most. The cost was nothing, and he gave us exactly what we asked for.” Kearse later re-signed with the Chargers on a two-year contract, further justifying the trade. For the Los Angeles Chargers, this trade was a textbook example of how to address depth needs without sacrificing future assets: a late-round pick for a player who not only contributed in the short term but also became a valuable long-term piece.

Finally, Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions wraps up with a broader assessment of the Chargers’ trade strategy—and how these acquisitions fit into their long-term goal of building a Super Bowl-contending team for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers’ recent trades reflect a balanced approach: some (like Harris and Kearse) were low-cost, short-term fixes aimed at winning now, while others (like Dillard and Thielen) were higher-cost moves designed to address core needs for multiple seasons. The key takeaway is that no trade is perfect—each requires a trade-off between immediate help and future flexibility. The Chargers have generally avoided “win-now at all costs” trades (e.g., giving up multiple first-round picks for a single star), instead focusing on targeted acquisitions that complement Herbert and fill specific gaps. “Our trade strategy is simple: we want to win now, but we don’t want to mortgage our future to do it,” general manager Tom Telesco said in 2025. “Every trade we make has to fit two criteria: it has to help Justin Herbert succeed, and it has to leave us with enough resources to build around him long-term.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, the success of these trades will ultimately be measured by whether they lead to a Super Bowl appearance—but so far, the team has shown a knack for making smart, strategic moves that keep them in contention while preserving their future. Trade Evaluations for the Los Angeles Chargers Acquisitions ultimately shows that in the NFL, successful trades aren’t just about getting a good player—they’re about getting the right player, at the right cost, at the right time.