The Chargers didn’t get any help from the NFL relative to their draft capital in 2023 after they were not awarded any compensatory picks for players who departed from their roster in 2022.
While the league’s new compensatory pick formula may not suit Los Angeles’ agenda this season, their salary cap situation will almost certainly necessitate that they let several players walk when free agency opens later in March, which will set them up to be awarded more selections next year.
For a team that needs as much young talent as they can find before they extend Justin Herbert on what is set to be a gargantuan second contract, this development is far from ideal. However, it won’t necessarily hamstring the team as they look to reload in search of their first playoff win since 2018.
L.A. still has picks in all seven rounds of the 2023 draft and will have the No. 21 overall selection in the first round. If they can find an impact player to fill needs on either side of the ball in any round in their rookie season, it could go a long way toward getting the Chargers back to legitimate contention.