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12 Chargers Who Won't Return Next Season

Jim Harbaugh is ushering in an era of change for the Chargers, and that will start with bidding farewell to plenty of familiar faces.

By Jason Schandl

Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30)
Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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12. Nick Vannett

You can repeat a lot of what I said for Stone Smartt in this section. Vannett was another Chargers tight end who played terribly in 2023, and as an upcoming free agent there's absolutely no need to bring him back.

Vannett graded out as the Chargers' worst offensive player of the season, per PFF, and his 125 offensive snaps yielded one single reception. He did play some special teams, but a backup tight end who is only a special-teamer is about as easy to find as anything in the NFL.

The Chargers were Vannett's sixth team since 2019, and it's kind of a head-scratcher that he keeps getting chances. Since being a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Vannett has finished more years with a PFF grade below 50.0 (three) than above 60.0 (one, in 2018).

Vannett is one of the league's worth tight ends, and it's not like he's some stellar special teams ace who warrants a roster spot solely for those contributions.

Of course, the Harbaugh addition basically confirms this. What are the odds the former Michigan head coach is going to have a soft spot for a former Ohio State Buckeye?

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