Chargers Communications
The Los Angeles Chargers today announced that the team has signed five players selected in the 2026 draft class to rookie contracts Memphis tackleTravis Burke(No. 117), Arizona safetyGenesis Smith(No. 131), South Carolina defensive linemanNick Barrett(No. 145), Boston College guardLogan Taylor(No. 202), and Oregon guardAlex Harkey(No. 206).
In addition, the Bolts waived two players defensive linemanJosh Fugaand cornerbackJordan Oladokunand signed 18 undrafted free agents Utah State safetyNoah Avinger, Utah linebackerLander Barton, Kansas State tight endJerand Bradley, Colorado wide receiverSincere Brown, Virginia defensive linemanJahmeer Carter, Memphis running backGreg Desrosiers, Syracuse safetyDevin Grant, Louisiana State defensive linemanJacobian Guillory, San Diego State outside linebackerNiles King, Penn State wide receiverDevonte Ross, Georgia Tech cornerbackRodney Shelley, Toledo cornerbackAvery Smith, Fresno State centerJacob Spomer, Wyoming tight endEvan Svoboda, Western Michigan outside linebackerNadame Tucker, Southern Methodist defensive linemanTerry Webb, Florida State cornerbackJeremiah Wilsonand Oregon tackleIsaiah World.
Burkeended his career at Memphis in 2025, starting 11 games at right tackle for an offense that produced three different 500-yard rushers. He helped the Tigers to eight wins and blocked for a unit that totaled 34 rushing touchdowns last season, ranking 12th in the FBS. Burke previously spent two seasons (2023-24) at Florida International, starting 22 games for the Panthers. He began his career by at Gardner-Webb, appearing in 14 games total over two seasons (2021-22), helping the Runnin' Bulldogs compile over 2,300 rushing yards in 2022, culminating in an appearance in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
A third-team All-Big 12 selection as a junior in 2025,Smithregistered a career-high 77 tackles (35 solo), adding three tackles for loss, an interception, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries. The Chandler, Ariz., native played three seasons at Arizona (2023-25), appearing in 37 career games. Smith totaled 164 tackles in his Wildcats career (87 solo), registering five interceptions and posting 19 pass breakups including nine in each of the last two years. He added four forced fumbles and three recoveries. Smith earned Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week in 2024 after posting seven tackles and a pick against Houston. An active participant in community service, he was on the 2025 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year watchlist and was Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist, which annually honors the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.
Barrettplayed five seasons at South Carolina (2021-25), appearing in 51 career games. He was voted by his teammates in 2025 as a team captain, a co-Steve Wadiak Team MVP and co-Most Outstanding Senior after starting all 12 games and setting a career high by leading all Gamecock defensive linemen with 42 tackles, adding six tackles for loss, two sacks and a 17-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Over his five years in Columbia, S.C., Barrett posted 72 tackles (34 solo), two sacks, an interception, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
A team captain in 2025,Taylorstarted all 12 games on the year for Boston College (eight at right guard, three at left tackle), earning Associated Press second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. He helped the Eagles eclipse 500-plus yards in two games on the season, including against No. 14 Georgia Tech. Taylor was a back-to-back honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2023-24, helping the Eagles average 182.9 rushing yards per game over that span. He transferred to Boston College after playing at Virginia for two seasons (2021-22), starting 46-of-49 career games with the Eagles and Cavaliers.
Harkeyended his career at Oregon in 2025, starting all 14 games at right tackle and helping the Ducks reach the College Football Playoff semifinal. He was a key piece of an offensive line that paved the way for three different players to eclipse 600 rushing yards and was named a finalist for the Joe Moore award, which annually recognizes college football's most outstanding offensive line. Harkey blocked for the offense to eclipse 200-plus rushing yards seven times, including a pair of contests with at least 300 rushing yards. He transferred to Oregon after a two-year tenure at Texas State (2023-24), earning third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2024. Harkey played at Colorado in 2022, transferring to play for the Buffaloes after beginning his collegiate career at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
