The Los Angeles Chargers have been active in their quest to improve their team early on this offseason. After crashing out of the playoffs in the wild-card round, it’s clear that the Chargers need help at several different spots, which has led the front office to target a handful of external free agents.
Of course, the team also wants to keep some of its own players in town. We’ve already seen guys like Khalil Mack, Trey Pipkins III, and Del’Shawn Phillips re-sign with the team, but another player Los Angeles wanted to keep in town was former Pro Bowl linebacker Denzel Perryman. After hitting the open market, it looks like Perryman has made a decision on where he will play football next in 2026.
Chargers Re-Sign Denzel Perryman on 1-Year Contract
Perryman initially entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, back when the Chargers were playing in San Diego. After spending the first six years of his career with the Chargers, Perryman would play for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 and 2022 before latching on with the Houston Texans in 2023. The best season of Perryman’s career came in 2021, as he racked up a career-high 154 tackles, which helped him get selected to his first Pro Bowl.
In 2024, Perryman returned to Los Angeles, which is where he’s spent the past two years of his career. While he’s missed at least six games both years, Perryman has remained a starter for the Chargers on defense when he’s healthy. He may not be a Pro Bowl-caliber player anymore, but Perryman has remained a key part of L.A.’s defensive scheme.
After hitting the open market, it seemed like all options were on the table for Perryman. He could have opted to retire, sign with another team, or return to the Chargers. The latter option ended up being the course he chose, as he reportedly re-signed with his longtime team on a one-year deal Thursday night.
“Veteran LB Denzel Perryman is returning to the Chargers on 1-year deal, per (his agent) Ron Butler. Back at age 33,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Chargers Continue Aggressive Start to Offseason with Denzel Perryman Re-Signing
GettyDenzel Perryman #6 of the Los Angeles Chargers
Keeping Perryman around is a big win for the Chargers, as he’s often making big plays at the center of their defense. The hope is that Perryman can remain healthy in 2025, but assuming he can, he figures to retain his starting job at one of the team’s inside linebacker spots. Eventually, L.A. will have to find a proper replacement for Perryman, but this move ensures it can kick that decision down the line for the time being.
Los Angeles still has work to do, but the early returns are encouraging. With a solid foundation in place, the Chargers can be aggressive in the draft when it comes to landing prospects they believe can become cornerstone pieces for them moving forward. Before that rolls around, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the front office make a couple more moves in free agency.
Chargers Make Final Decision on Pro Bowl Linebacker in Free Agency