Chargers' Tight End Injuries Could Lead to Trade With Cowboys
The Los Angeles Chargers placed tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar on injured reserve, leaving them thin at the position. The Dallas Cowboys have an expendable tight end in Luke Schoonmaker, who has fallen to third on the depth chart. A trade could benefit both teams, as the Chargers need help and the Cowboys could get something for a player not in their long-term plans.
The Chargers' offseason investment at tight end has unraveled quickly, as both Njoku and Kolar were free-agent additions who lasted just two games before landing on injured reserve. With Gadsden now the lone healthy option on the active roster, Los Angeles faces a depth crisis at a position that requires significant snap rotation. The practice squad options, Svoboda and Herbert, have combined for zero career game appearances, making external help a practical necessity.
Schoonmaker's situation in Dallas has deteriorated since his second-round selection in 2023, with Spann-Ford's offseason extension cementing his fall to third on the depth chart. His expiring contract and diminished role make him a logical trade candidate, though the Cowboys would need to promote from their own practice squad to maintain depth. The Chargers' desperation could give Dallas leverage in negotiations, even for a player who has underwhelmed relative to his draft pedigree.
This trade scenario could affect both teams' playoff trajectories, as tight end depth is critical for offensive flexibility in the modern NFL. Chargers fans may see their team's season hinge on how quickly the front office addresses this gap, while Cowboys supporters could view a trade as either prudent asset management or a sign of organizational instability. The broader league may watch this as a test case for how teams value mid-tier tight ends in an era where the position's receiving role has expanded significantly.