The M.O. for the Los Angeles Chargers under second-year GM Joe Hortiz has been one of restraint and measured decision making. They knew they were coming into a roster that looked little like what one would call a Jim Harbaugh team.
But in a league like today’s NFL, taking big swings for the fences has proven to reap big rewards. A look at recent conference champions tells that story perfectly. The Eagles spent big in free agency for Saquon Barkley. The 49ers traded major draft capital for Christian McCaffrey. The Rams traded even more for Matthew Stafford and Jalen Ramsey. Even the Chiefs had to make a, at the time, controversial move, to trade up to get Patrick Mahomes, and the Buccaneers took a risk on signing an over-the-hill quarterback.
The Chargers could go a few directions for a big swing, but there is one out there that is just begging to be made.
The Los Angeles Chargers Need To Get More Aggressive To Take The Next Step
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, several teams have recently explored the possibility of acquiring the former Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt, especially in light of his absence from Pittsburgh’s latest minicamp.
While the Steelers have yet to entertain trade discussions, league sources say Watt’s dissatisfaction with his current contract situation has not gone unnoticed.
Interest in Watt has only intensified following Monday’s unexpected shake-up, which saw the Dolphins send cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The blockbuster deal underscored Pittsburgh’s willingness to make bold moves — and left executives wondering if more might follow.
“Everybody has just assumed that TJ Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers are gonna figure things out,” Schefter also told Pat McAfee. “I don’t think they’re very close to a deal right now.”
Chargers Are Desperate For Pass Rush And Watt Is Still Elite, Despite Down Year
The Chargers’ struggle to get to the quarterbacks was a struggle all season, posting the 7th worst pressure percentage in the league last season. While this wasn’t the case in the playoff loss against the Texans, where they picked up a 33 pressure percentage and three sacks of CJ Stroud, they struggled with run defense as a result, allowing Stroud to rack up 42 yards on the ground and two critical first downs on three scrambles.
In 2023, Watt was sensational—playing all 17 games, he led the league with 19 sacks, added 68 total tackles, recorded 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and even snagged 1 interception. His dominant year earned him first-team All-Pro honors and helped him secure a top-10 spot (#8) on the NFL Top 100 list for 2024.
In 2024, Watt again started all 17 games and posted 11.5 sacks and 61 total tackles (40 solo, 21 assists). He led the league with 6 forced fumbles, recovered 2 fumbles, and also recorded 4 passes defended. His remarkable play earned him second-team All-Pro honors, a Steelers Team MVP award, a seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod, and he was a finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year.
⚡ Quick stat comparison (2023 vs 2024 across 17 games each):
- Sacks: 19 → 11.5
- Total tackles: 68 → 61
- Forced fumbles: 4 → 6
- Fumble recoveries: 3 → 2
- Passes defended: 8 → 4
- Pro Bowl/All-Pro: First‑team All‑Pro (2023) → Second‑team All‑Pro & Pro Bowl (2024)
Despite a slight dip in sack production from his peak in 2023, Watt has maintained elite consistency—continuing to rack up turnovers and earning accolades—proving why he remains one of the league’s premier defensive weapons and would be a huge asset to the Chargers
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Chargers YouTube Channel