The Chargers have signed five of their eight picks from the 2026 NFL Draft, including offensive tackle Travis Burke and safety Genesis Smith. The remaining unsigned players are first-rounder Akheem Mesdior, second-round pick Jake Slaughter, and fourth-round pick Brenen Thompson.
COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 29: Nick Barrett #93 of the South Carolina Gamecocks pursues a play on defense during a college football game against the Clemson Tigers on November 29, 2025 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
On Friday, the Chargers began the process of signing their 2026 draft class by inking five of their eight picks.
Offensive tackle Travis Burke (fourth round), safety Genesis Smith (fourth), defensive tackle Nick Barrett (fifth), offensive guard Logan Taylor (sixth), and offensive tackle/guard Alex Harkey (sixth). For now, first-rounder Akheem Mesdior, second-round pick Jake Slaughter, and fourth-round pick Brenen Thompson remain unsigned as rookie minicamp gets underway.
Burke is a mean and nasty blocker who will compete with veteran Trey Pipkins for the swing tackle role on offense.
Smith, a free safety out of Arizona, provides some more youth to the aging position group while helping them round out their skillsets with a back-end, single-high player who frees up the likes of Derwin James to wreak havoc around the line of scrimmage.
Barrett figures to slot in as more of a true nose along the front line. He’ll likely rotate up front with Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, and if Chris O’Leary wants to keep that group fresh like Jesse Minter preffered.
The signed 2026 draft picks include Travis Burke, Genesis Smith, Nick Barrett, Logan Taylor, and Alex Harkey.
First-round pick Akheem Mesdior, second-round pick Jake Slaughter, and fourth-round pick Brenen Thompson remain unsigned.
Travis Burke plays as an offensive tackle and will compete for the swing tackle role on offense.
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Lastly, both Taylor and Harkey provide new depth up front, each of which could play multiple positions along the front five. If injuries begin to pile up yet again, the Chargers will be thankful they took so many offensive linemen this year.