Khalil Mack
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After re-signing Khalil Mack, the Chargers are turning their attention to Odafe Oweh and Zion Johnson
The Los Angeles Chargers have made some big moves early in the offseason. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has revamped his coaching staff after another disappointing playoff run, but the real changes are going to have to be made to the roster. Ahead of the start of free agency, the Chargers made a big move to re-sign Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18 million contract.
With Mack returning to town, Los Angeles has managed to hold onto one of its top free agents. However, there are still several big-name players from last season’s team who are set to hit the open market, and according to a recent report, it sounds like two of them, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and left guard Zion Johnson, are the front office’s priority for the time being.
Chargers Turn Attention Towards Re-Signing Odafe Oweh, Zion Johnson
Long regarded as one of the best pass rushers of his generation, Mack experienced a down year of sorts in 2025. While he missed five games, Mack finished the year with just 5.5 sacks, which was the lowest total since he racked up just four sacks back in 2023 as a rookie with the Oakland Raiders. Still, when he was healthy, Mack was a difference maker for the Chargers.
Re-signing Mack is big, but there is still a lot of work for Los Angeles to do this offseason. Bringing Oweh and Johnson back to town is part of that plan. After getting picked up in a midseason trade with the Baltimore Ravens, Oweh racked up 7.5 sacks for the Chargers, while Johnson remained one of the steadiest players on L.A.’s roster, as he started 16 of the 17 games he played in for the team last season.
As of right now, it seems like both Oweh and Johnson are set to hit the open market, which will make re-signing them more difficult than initially expected. However, according to Chargers insider Kris Rhim of ESPN, the front office has now turned its full focus to Oweh and Johnson, and it wants to keep both guys in town for the foreseeable future.
“The focus will now be on getting outside linebacker Odafe Oweh back along with left guard Zion Johnson; both are free agents,” Rhim reported.
Will the Chargers Be Able to Re-Sign Odafe Oweh and Zion Johnson?
Los Angeles Chargers OLB Odafe Oweh
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 11: Odafe Oweh #98 of the Los Angeles Chargers in action during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
In theory, the front office is doing the right thing by trying to keep both Oweh and Johnson on their roster. However, that’s going to be easier said than done, as they are both among the top players set to hit the open market at their respective positions. Beyond that, more teams will likely be interested in signing Oweh now that Mack is off the open market.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, but the likelihood of both Oweh and Johnson sticking around seems low. With Mack back in the saddle, the Chargers will likely be more interested in re-signing Johnson, although it is worth noting they did just trade for Oweh, which also makes him a guy the front office will understandably want to hang onto. Regardless of how likely it is, Los Angeles is a team worth keeping tabs on over the next few days.