2025 Chargers Official News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[wu-dai clan]

Okay to make decisions based on on-field performance? Allowed?

Allowed.
Hortiz will go through step by step.
Job performance.
Return on investment.
Capability of negotiating more cap friendly terms.
Best value in trade.

[Bolt4Knob]

Again, if cap is the issue why isn’t there a big 5, just include Herbert and say that you want to keep him, it’s okay.

In terms of in-field performance, both Mack and Allen, in that order, have shown their respective value, even factoring in Allen’s numerous dings both tiny and kinda big. Worth the money over any suggested on non-suggested alternatives. Moving on from a top 5 EDGE just makes no sense to me, but whatevs.

Building depth never goes away, but I would not sacrifice the demonstrated top production of a starter to do so. Use the draft picks we’ve got!

What if you replace an Edge rusher with better IDL - as right now its Otito, Matlock and if you count Fox as IDL, thats it. Chargers really need to get better on the interior Dline.

Could Fox play DE - didn't he play DE with the Rams? I have no clue what Staley was running but it wasn't a good use of players

EDIT: as when the Chargers had that defense featuring Jamal, Junior and ROdney - I couldn't even tell you the edge rushers but knew for damn sure the middle was protected with those three MoFo's

[blueman]

What if you replace an Edge rusher with better IDL - as right now its Otito, Matlock and if you count Fox as IDL, thats it. Chargers really need to get better on the interior Dline.

Could Fox play DE - didn't he play DE with the Rams? I have no clue what Staley was running but it wasn't a good use of players

I would not, cuz you could easily end up with so-so production at both positions. You’re not giving me top five IDL production for taking away Mack, so no. Give me an option where we get that top five IDL, well maybe, would be something to consider (age? injury history? scheme fit? all that would have to be known, but again there’s only a couple guys who do that in the league and they would cost Mack money or more, right?).

[Bolt4Knob]

I would not, cuz you could easily end up with so-so production at both positions. You’re not giving me top five IDL production for taking away Mack, so no. Give me an option where we get that top five IDL, well maybe, would be something to consider (age? injury history? scheme fit? all that would have to be known, but again there’s only a couple guys who do that in the league and they would cost Mack money or more, right?).

Fair enough

One thing - Hortiz does need to find some IDL help though -- either free agency or the draft as that room is looking weak

I do wonder if Fox could play DE in a Minter scheme. I think he was moved inside for Staley. I just seem to remember he was a DE next to Donald and SJD with the Rams - but maybe I am wrong there

[blueman]

Fair enough

One thing - Hortiz does need to find some IDL help though -- either free agency or the draft as that room is looking weak

I do wonder if Fox could play DE in a Minter scheme. I think he was moved inside for Staley. I just seem to remember he was a DE next to Donald and SJD with the Rams - but maybe I am wrong there

Even if he could, you just weakened the IDL even more.

Agree we need IDL, we need starters at almost every position. But I wouldn’t ditch a player who means as much as he does to the team as Mack does. That’s just creating as big a hole on D as ditching Herbert would on O. When Herbert’s healthy that is, and has a running game, and his stats do seem to go down with any injury he’s had to date.

[wu-dai clan]

Even if he could, you just weakened the IDL even more.

Agree we need IDL, we need starters at almost every position. But I wouldn’t ditch a player who means as much as he does to the team as Mack does. That’s just creating as big a hole on D as ditching Herbert would on O. When Herbert’s healthy that is, and has a running game, and his stats do seem to go down with any injury he’s had to date.

Giving Mack permission to seek a trade with the Rams is a realistic option.
He would only need to move to their locker room in the same building.
Khalil would be reunited with Giff.
We don't know exactly what Mack's future performance and health would be.
And the Chargers were fortunate enough to draft a great value pick in Tuli, to succeed Mack.

[Boltjolt]

Well that would be awesome! I'm not sure the Bears would be willing to give up Johnson.

Maybe but if they trade out of #1 they are going to get a boatload of picks and can get another one.
Just a thought.

[blueman]

Giving Mack permission to seek a trade with the Rams is a realistic option.
He would only need to move to their locker room in the same building.
Khalil would be reunited with Giff.
We don't know exactly what Mack's future performance and health would be.
And the Chargers were fortunate enough to draft a great value pick in Tuli, to succeed Mack.

We don’t know anybody’s.

But I would posit Tuli needs a few more years to generate the level of play Mack does now. Out on a ledge, I know.

[Boltinloudguy]

Fair enough

One thing - Hortiz does need to find some IDL help though -- either free agency or the draft as that room is looking weak

I do wonder if Fox could play DE in a Minter scheme. I think he was moved inside for Staley. I just seem to remember he was a DE next to Donald and SJD with the Rams - but maybe I am wrong there

I can definitely see them focusing on the IDL in free agency and draft. I can even see them either keeping Fox or trying to trade Fox. He’s not their guy, so anything is up in the air. I’d take a 6th for him.

Extend and restructure Mack and sign Uche. You go into the season with Mack, Uche, Tuli and a rookie like Jasheen Davis. Not sure were they stand on Rumph either.

As far as IDL, you sign Maurice Hurst and draft either Sweat, Jenkins or Fiske in the 2nd. So you go into the season with Hurst, Tito, Matlock, Fox and a rookie. And don’t forget Okoye and Clark lurking in the background.

Edge: Mack, Tuli, Uche and J. Davis

IDL: Hurst, Fox, Tito, Matlock, Clark and either Jenkins, Sweat or Fiske

[Formula 21]

For instance - if the Chargers agree to trade Bosa to the 49ers and he agrees to a contract of a straight $14m in cash -- the Chargers cap number would be reduced by $8m - he is traded to the 49ers, they take on the $14 straight cap hit and the chargers than get the cap savings less any dead cap

Now if the Chargers give him a $5m signing bonus and a salary of $9m - so the same $14 - the Chargers would create $5m in dead cap and the Niners would only assume the $9m salary. The Chargers would than get the aditional cap savings post March 15 but still only save the $8m to the cap. Granted if trhe Chargers did this - the draft pick would have to be a 2nd rounder - at worst a 3rd as they would be paying for a draft pick

End of the day - the Chargers really don't have many options other than to move on from both Mike Williams and Joey Bosa unless you want to keep having this conversation about pushing money and creating cap space. This is year 2 of it as they did it last year. As if Harbaugh and Hortiz are building the team we want for five years - do you really want to be hamstrung by a dead cap hit for Joey Bosa in couple years of $15m - and that doesn't include Allen &/or Mack - which will eventually happen as well.

I want to win now and restock the club as contracts wind down with little or no dead cap hits.

Win now. This losing stuff is for losers.

[wu-dai clan]

We don’t know anybody’s.

But I would posit Tuli needs a few more years to generate the level of play Mack does now. Out on a ledge, I know.

All true.
Another reality is that we need to find solutions to our cap situation.
That not only involves finding some sort of good trade partners,
but also those who would be willing to pull the trigger,
while knowing fully well our predicament.

So what if our best options involve trading Mack and Allen for reasonable return,
instead of getting nothing or next to nothing for Bosa, MW ?
At least we can have confidence that Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz will get us past the TT/Staley mess ASAP.

[FoutsFan]

Again, if cap is the issue why isn’t there a big 5, just include Herbert and say that you want to keep him, it’s okay.

In terms of on-field performance, both Mack and Allen, in that order, have shown their respective value, even factoring in Allen’s numerous dings both tiny and kinda big. Worth the money over any suggested on non-suggested alternatives. Moving on from a top 5 EDGE just makes no sense to me, but whatevs.

Building depth never goes away, but I would not sacrifice the demonstrated top production of a starter to do so. Use the draft picks we’ve got!

Best plan to build for the future:

Draft McCarthy or best QB available at #5.

Trade Herbert and the other four for picks and picks and picks - Herbert alone should net multiple first rounders, are you guys not drooling over that? And there you go, future all taken care of, right? If that’s the goal, kinda doubt Harbaugh wants to go that route so I guess keep Herbert even after a couple off years plus injuries…

Lose now to (maybe) win later, would be the team slogan.

Thats it exactly. Too many after the big coach and GM win are falling back into "I don't care about winning other than winning the salary cap SB every year" We have tried the salary cap SB for decades and it got us 0 SB's. Lets try something different now. Keep the star players and win on the field not in the check book.