The Chargers are eliminated from the playoffs, vault into top-5 draft slot
The postseason dream is over for the Los Angeles Chargers. Bills kicker Tyler Bass ended them with a 29-yard field goal with under a minute to play, lifting Buffalo to a 24-22 win in SoFi Stadium.
For all intents and purposes, the dream died long ago for the Chargers. They fired their coach and GM a couple of weeks ago, after all. But now the mathematical chances are done, meaning it’s now officially draft season for the Chargers.
Saturday’s loss dropped L.A. to 5-10 on the season. Entering Sunday’s action, the Chargers hold the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. They could be joined at the 5-10 mark by a few teams on Sunday, but the Chargers have the lowest strength of schedule in their wins of any of those teams.
Figuring out what the Chargers will do with a top-5 pick is very difficult; they don’t have a GM or a head coach. They have pressing needs at offensive tackle opposite Rashawn Slater, tight end (Gerald Everett and Nick Vannett are pending free agents), running back (Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley are free agents), cornerback and pass rusher.
