The Los Angeles Chargers have already been active on the trade market this season, acquiring former first-round pick Odafe Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens. But with the team fighting through injuries and inconsistency on both sides of the ball, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes general manager Joe Hortiz isn’t done yet.
Chargers Trade Rumors: Bolstering a Battered Chargers Offensive Line
Support Local and Independent Sports Writing – Subscribe To the LAFB Network Today!
Barnwell recently proposed a deal that would send offensive lineman Evan Neal from the New York Giants to Los Angeles in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-rounder. Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in 2022, has struggled to find footing in New York and has been inactive throughout the 2025 season.
“Neal’s owed only $666,667 over the remainder of the season, so he wouldn’t be an expensive option for a team that needs a backup offensive lineman, most likely at tackle,” Barnwell wrote. “We’re not that far removed from Neal looking like a potential franchise tackle at Alabama, and there should be teams with optimistic scouting reports on him from his college days willing to take something close to a free look at the 25-year-old.”
The Chargers’ need for line help is well-documented. With Rashawn Slater out for the season and both Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins battling injuries, Los Angeles has been forced to start depth pieces like Austin Deculus and Bobby Hart. Bringing in Neal would at least provide a developmental option with starting upside and versatility to play inside if needed.
Chargers Trade Rumors: Finding Stability in the Backfield
Is Jim Harbaugh The Real Life Ted Lasso?
Barnwell also floated another move — sending a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for running back Jerome Ford and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
“Ford’s due only $1.2 million over the rest of 2025, and he has averaged a respectable 4.4 yards per carry as a pro,” Barnwell explained. “As a veteran back who can soak up meaningful touches now and complement Hampton after the rookie returns, Ford fits the sort of profile the Chargers would be looking to add via trade.”
With Kimani Vidal emerging but Omarion Hampton sidelined indefinitely, Ford’s proven production — 813 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in 2023 — would give the Bolts a reliable, cost-controlled option.
Both proposals make practical sense for a Chargers team that’s thin up front and searching for balance in the run game. Two late-round picks for two players with upside and starting experience? That’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward roster building Joe Hortiz was hired to deliver.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Chargers YouTube Channel
