Why Chargers’ only way out of current Justin Herbert mess is tanking for Jeremiah Smith appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-6, and their season is already looking like it is over. However, there could still be a reason for fans to watch closely as the losses pile up.
If the Chargers want to give Justin Herbert the kind of supporting cast he has needed for years, their best opportunity could come through the 2027 NFL Draft and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
I already wrote about what the chances are of the Chargers actually drafting Smith. Now, we discuss why the Chargers must find a way to get him. Yes, that means tanking.
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Smith has established himself as one of the most exciting wide receiver prospects in recent memory. He could become the kind of receiver who changes an NFL offense. Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase come to mind.
For a Chargers team that has struggled to surround Herbert with elite receiving talent, landing Smith could reshape the future of the franchise.
Jeremiah Smith IS the missing piece for Justin Herbert
Herbert has spent much of his NFL career being asked to overcome roster deficiencies, particularly when it comes to the weapons around him. The Chargers have struggled to consistently provide him with the kind of receiving talent that can turn his arm strength and playmaking ability into a championship-caliber offense.
Smith could change that equation. The Ohio State star has dominated college football since arriving in Columbus, building a résumé that puts him in the conversation among the top wide receiver prospects of his generation. His physical tools and ability to produce against high-level competition give him the potential to become not just a No. 1 receiver at the next level, but a superstar.
Pairing Smith with Herbert would give the Chargers a chance to build their passing game around a young receiver who can win matchups, create explosive plays, and make life easier for his quarterback.
The Chargers cannot afford to win themselves out of the race
At 0-6, Los Angeles has already put itself in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. The Miami Dolphins are also winless at 0-5, creating an early race between two struggling teams that could have major implications for the draft order.
The Chargers and Dolphins are scheduled to meet in Week 16, a game that could become one of the most consequential matchups of the season for draft positioning. If both teams remain near the bottom of the standings, the result could affect which organization has the better chance to select Smith.
The Chargers should be focused on what this season can do for their long-term future. Smith could go within the first two picks, although the decisions of other teams could leave him available at No. 3. If Los Angeles climbs the standings and finishes with three or more wins, it could end the path to landing him.
No team is going to openly announce that it intends to lose games, and players and coaches have every reason to compete for wins. Still, the Chargers front office has to recognize what is at stake if they finish with a record that leaves them outside the range needed to draft Smith. Winning a few meaningless games at the end of a lost season could cost them an opportunity to add a player who changes the trajectory of the franchise.
Another missed opportunity would be painfully familiar
The opportunity in front of the Chargers is hard to ignore. Herbert remains the centerpiece of the franchise, but the organization has to do more to help him succeed. If Smith becomes the elite receiver many project him to be, he could provide the missing piece that has eluded Los Angeles for years.
The Chargers cannot control every outcome, but they can recognize the importance of their draft position and avoid sacrificing their future for a few late-season wins.
If they miss out on Smith because they win just enough games to fall outside his draft range, it would be another frustrating chapter in the franchise’s history. For a franchise that has hardly any history, passing on a chance to land a potential franchise-changing receiver would be a costly mistake, and the most Chargers-like outcome possible.
Related: Why Jim Harbaugh doesn’t have ‘privilege’ of ruling out Mike McDaniel role change at 0-6
Related: Jason McCourty urges Chargers to avoid wrong kind of perfect season after 0-6 start