Los Angeles Chargers Top Draft Targets: Clemson Edge Rusher TJ Parker

The Los Angeles Chargers are making their last-minute preparations leading up to the draft and finalizing their boards. They had a relatively calm free agency period but will be entering the draft with a few obvious needs.

Los Angeles lost edge rusher Odafe Oweh, whom they traded for last season, to the Washington Commanders in free agency. Oweh's arrival in Los Angeles last season from Baltimore coincided with an improved pass rush on known third downs. When Khalil Mack returned from a dislocated elbow injury, he, Oweh and Tuli Tuipulotu were a fearsome trio for opposing offenses.

The Chargers still have veteran Bud Dupree and second-year fourth-round edge rusher Kyle Kennard on the roster. But, with Oweh gone, the Chargers need an edge rusher with some pass-rushing juice to pair alongside Mack and Tuipulotu.

On top of looking for a third edge rusher, the Chargers are also looking for a successor to Khalil Mack, who returned to the Chargers on a one-year deal this offseason for his age-35 season. With Mack's age and Tuipulotu's expected extension, the Chargers need to add a young and cost-effective player to the room.

2026 Draft: Edge Rushers

Fortunately for the Chargers, this upcoming draft class is loaded with edge rushers. Although limited with five selections, the Chargers should have no trouble finding an edge rusher to fit their room and team culture somewhere in the first few rounds.

Clemson's TJ Parker

Clemson Tigers edge rusher T.J. Parker reacts after a play — Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

TJ Parker entered the 2025 season with sky-high top-ten draft pick goals. The entire Clemson team had massive expectations having brought back a massive list of NFL talent for the 2025 season.

Unfortunately, Parker did not have statistical season he was hoping for and nor did the entire Clemson team have the success they had expected. The team overall faltered and underperformed as did most of their 2026 NFL prospects. Check out my full profile on Parker here.

The 2025 drop in production for Parker has soured some analysts on his NFL ceiling. If Parker falls to the Chargers selection at pick 22 in the first round, he will be very much in consideration and they would be lucky to land a him at a discount.

Parker is a powerful edge rusher with a jarring long arm strike and a ferocious motor. He is not a perfect prospect but he has a great foundation. Parker is a young prospect, as a true junior, with plenty to work on, but his strength is NFL-ready.

TJ Parker was a wrecking ball in the 2024 ACC championship. https://t.co/hjNlzuHhJN pic.twitter.com/tIFl4MYsng
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) January 15, 2026

The Chargers may have unique insight to Clemson players as well with multiple connections at the University. Clemson's Director of Player Evaluation & Acquisition Kevin Kelly, joined Clemson in early 2025 after spending twelve years in the Chargers front office. Parker's position coach at Clemson is Chris Rumph. Rumph is the father of Chargers 2021 fourth-round pick edge rusher Chris Rumph II, and he was also Khalil Mack's position coach for the Chicago Bears in 2021.

Parker specifically stayed at Clemson for 2025 despite reported NIL offers to leave to continue to work with Rumph. Parker is a similar style of edge rusher as Mack and would be a perfect understudy to the Hall of Fame-bound defender

TJ Parker still needs work but man does he pack a punch.
The Chargers will have a very interesting off-season for the edge room. https://t.co/4w6blcRJDA pic.twitter.com/olHfLeqeMu
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) January 6, 2026

If TJ Parker lands in Los Angeles, the Chargers will have their third edge rusher for 2025 and a succession plan for whenever Khalil Mack decides to hang up his cleats.