Los Angeles Chargers Eye Jaydn Ott in 2026 NFL Draft Process

The Los Angeles Chargers are scheduled to interview running back prospect Jaydn Ott ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, joining the Cincinnati Bengals in showing formal interest in the former California and Oklahoma ball-carrier, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The pre-draft visit signals that Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and his scouting staff view Ott as a legitimate target when picks begin flying in late April.

Ott’s path to draft eligibility cuts through two Power Five programs — a productive run at Cal followed by a transfer to Oklahoma that, by most measures, did not go as planned. Still, the fact that two NFL franchises have already penciled in formal meetings with him speaks to the raw athleticism evaluators saw on tape during his Golden Bears years.

How Jaydn Ott Fits the Los Angeles Chargers’ Backfield Blueprint

The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2026 offseason with J.K. Dobbins on the roster but genuine questions about depth and long-term durability at the running back position. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s offense leans on a physical, between-the-tackles running game to set up play-action for quarterback Justin Herbert, and a versatile back who can absorb a full snap count would slot directly into that scheme.

Breaking down the advanced metrics from Ott’s peak Cal season, the numbers reveal a pattern: he generated consistent yards after contact, showed above-average vision in zone-blocking looks, and flashed legitimate receiving ability out of the backfield — exactly the kind of dual-threat profile Harbaugh covets. The Chargers‘ draft strategy analysis for 2026 has centered on adding youth and athleticism at several skill positions, and running back fits that priority list.

An alternative read on the visit, worth acknowledging: pre-draft interviews are frequently exploratory rather than transactional. The Chargers could be gathering information for trade-up scenarios or simply building relationships with prospects they do not ultimately select. Based on available data, no formal offer or pick commitment has been reported.

Ott’s College Career: Golden Bears Star, Sooner Struggle

Jaydn Ott built his reputation under head coach Justin Wilcox at California, where he emerged as the centerpiece of the Golden Bears’ ground attack. His blend of burst through the hole and soft hands as a receiver made him one of the more intriguing backs in the Pac-12 before the conference’s restructuring.

The Oklahoma chapter, however, was difficult to watch for Ott’s supporters. A shoulder injury sustained during fall camp limited his availability from the start. Even when healthy enough to play, he never carved out a featured role in Brent Venables’ offense, finishing with just 21 carries for 68 yards across the season. The Sooners did advance to the College Football Playoff’s first round before losing to Alabama, but Ott’s contribution to that run was minimal.

The film shows a back whose Oklahoma tape is essentially a redacted document — there simply is not enough of it to draw firm conclusions. Scouts evaluating Ott are leaning heavily on his California work, which is a reasonable approach but introduces real projection risk at the next level. That uncertainty likely pushes him toward the middle rounds, which is precisely the range where the Chargers have historically found value at the position.

What Does the Bengals’ Interest Tell Us About Ott’s Draft Stock?

Cincinnati’s involvement adds useful context to Ott’s draft positioning. The Bengals finished 16th in the NFL last season with 330.4 offensive yards per game, a number partly depressed by quarterback Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury. With Burrow healthy and the Cincinnati front office focused on rebuilding a more balanced offense, adding a versatile running back ranks high on their offseason checklist.

The Bengals and Chargers operating in the same pre-draft space around a single prospect is not unusual, but it does confirm that Ott has cleared the initial screening filters at multiple organizations. NFL teams conduct dozens of pre-draft visits, and not every player who gets a meeting lands on a final board — but the dual interest from a pair of pass-first franchises suggests Ott’s receiving ability is the trait driving the most conversation in personnel circles.

For the Chargers specifically, the salary cap implications of adding a mid-round running back are negligible compared to the scheme fit upside. Rookie contracts at the position are among the most team-friendly structures in the league, and Harbaugh’s staff has shown a willingness to deploy committee backs when the talent warrants it. A player like Ott — if his shoulder is fully sound — could contribute in a rotational role from Day 1 without requiring a massive snap count commitment.

Key Developments in the Chargers-Ott Pre-Draft Process

• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler first reported both the Chargers and Bengals had scheduled formal interviews with Ott, making him one of the more widely requested running back prospects at this stage of the pre-draft calendar.
• Ott’s shoulder injury occurred specifically during Oklahoma’s fall camp, before the regular season began, limiting his ability to establish any rhythm in the Sooners’ offensive system.
• During his time at California under Justin Wilcox, Ott was described as a “crown jewel” of the Golden Bears’ offensive scheme, a label that reflects the program’s reliance on him as a featured weapon.
• Oklahoma’s 2025 season ended in the first round of the College Football Playoff with a loss to Alabama, a context that further reduced Ott’s opportunities to showcase himself on a national stage late in the year.
• Cincinnati’s offensive output of 330.4 yards per game ranked 16th in the NFL last season, a figure that reinforces why the Bengals — like the Chargers — are actively pursuing backfield upgrades this spring.

What Comes Next for the Los Angeles Chargers at Running Back

The 2026 NFL Draft runs April 24-26 in Green Bay, giving the Chargers roughly three weeks to finalize their board after completing pre-draft visits. Hortiz has been methodical since taking over the front office, prioritizing depth chart flexibility over splashy moves — a philosophy that aligns well with targeting a mid-round back like Ott rather than committing significant resources at the position in free agency.

Justin Herbert’s continued development as one of the AFC’s top quarterbacks means the Chargers do not need a workhorse back to carry the offense. What they need is a back who keeps defensive coordinators honest, stays healthy through a 17-game slate, and contributes in passing situations where the Chargers’ target share tends to concentrate at receiver. Ott’s Cal tape suggests he can do all three — the Oklahoma sample, thin as it is, is the one variable that requires a leap of faith from the Chargers’ scouting department.

Defensive scheme breakdown from opponents who faced Ott at his best shows a back who consistently forced missed tackles at or near the line of scrimmage, a trait that translates across offensive systems. Whether Harbaugh’s staff weighs that evidence heavily enough to pull the trigger on Ott before Day 3 of the draft is a question the next three weeks will answer.