Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[Jack Burton]

They could go out and sign DT's to start with. A number of people think we should draft defensive tackle... Woods, Banks, McDonald, Hunter. But free agent defensive tackles are a better value than IOL's or edge rushers. John Franklin-Meyers, David Onyemata, DJ Reader, Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle... there are even older, short-term players like Cameron Jordan or Calais Campbell that are still playing at a very high level.

TE is another position we're light on and many believe we should target in the draft. Likely, Otton, Okonkwo, Goedert, Jonnu Smith... Travis Kelce (LOL!).

CB is a position that Hortiz seems to be very good at targeting, too. You've got some free agent CB's.. Flott, Watson, McCreary, Woolen, Taylor, Jobe, Newsome...

LB: Many value players... if you wanted to make a big splash (and spend a lot on 1 player)... Devin Lloyd. I think O'Leary (and his love of pressure) would love to use Lloyd all over the field.

Basically, any position that people are talking about as draft targets... can be had in free agency... if you are not over-spending for Mack Oweh, Zion...

Why not a weapon? Why can’t MM have anything? Those TEs are just meh. I don’t get why a team with 100 million in FA this year and is scheduled to have 172 MIL in 2027 (6th most] with the most cash on hand of any NFL team right now can’t just go get what they need to win now. Isn’t this the time to strike? We can’t have nice things?

[Boltjolt]

Why not a weapon? Why can’t MM have anything? Those TEs are just meh. I don’t get why a team with 100 million in FA this year and is scheduled to have 172 MIL in 2027 (6th most] with the most cash on hand of any NFL team right now can’t just go get what they need to win now. Isn’t this the time to strike? We can’t have nice things?

Gadsden is a weapon. Jonnu was a weapon in Miami with MM. Goedert i like. Likely is pretty decent. Point is we can fill some possitions in FA'cy.

What eapon do you want us to get? You know we arent going to trade for AJ Brown or sign Pierce for 30 mil. ....well maybe he does sign Pierce with the money we got but id be shocked if he does. Hortiz has said he really likes our WR room but we can use a field stretcher. Does he consider KLS as one? He ran a 4.37 and maybe he makes the jump this year.

Indy seems to want to keep Pierce who ran a 4.41

[Jack Burton]

Gadsden is a weapon. Jonnu was a weapon in Miami with MM. Goedert i like. Likely is pretty decent. Point is we can fill some possitions in FA'cy.

What eapon do you want us to get? You know we arent going to trade for AJ Brown or sign Pierce for 30 mil. ....well maybe he does sign Pierce with the money we got but id be shocked if he does. Hortiz has said he really likes our WR room but we can use a field stretcher. Does he consider KLS as one? He ran a 4.37 and maybe he makes the jump this year.

Indy seems to want to keep Pierce who ran a 4.41

Jolt, are you telling me that because KLS ran a fast 40 that he’s on the level with one of the most elite WRs in the game? Why are you talking about pretty decent? How about really good to elite? Is that so wrong? Of course Indy wants Pierce. He’s really, really good. I haven’t seen any reports of teams clamoring to acquire KLS….

Likely would be a really good upgrade to pair with Gadsden.

Who else? Liking the WR room and then seeing reports of the FO being really interested in a bunch of really good to elite WRs tells me they actually like it but it’s missing an elite X.

[Boltnut]

Why not a weapon? Why can’t MM have anything? Those TEs are just meh. I don’t get why a team with 100 million in FA this year and is scheduled to have 172 MIL in 2027 (6th most] with the most cash on hand of any NFL team right now can’t just go get what they need to win now. Isn’t this the time to strike? We can’t have nice things?

In 2024, Ladd McConkey was a weapon... 10th most receiving yards 1,150 yards.
In 2025, QJ was on pace for 1,700 yards (after 3 games)... until Alt went down and we cycled OT's throughout the rest of the year.
In 2026, I expect Tre Harris to improve on 2025.

QJ, Ladd, Harris, Gadsden, Hampton, Vidal... if you keep Herbert protected, we have adequate weapons. Remember, Harbaugh believes that O-linemen are weapons, too. Also remember, McD will use his RB's in the passing game, too.

Also worth considering... O'Leary will blitz more than Minter. Devin Lloyd as a blitzing LB would cause chaos.
Imagine Lloyd in the middle... James in the slot... and Henly on the other side...
Where is the blitz coming from...? Add another cover CB (via free agency) and the opposing offensive coordinator has their work cut out for them.

Create turnovers... and help your offense.

[Boltjolt]

Jolt, are you telling me that because KLS ran a fast 40 that he’s on the level with one of the most elite WRs in the game? Why are you talking about pretty decent? How about really good to elite? Is that so wrong? Of course Indy wants Pierce. He’s really, really good. I haven’t seen any reports of teams clamoring to acquire KLS….

Likely would be a really good upgrade to pair with Gadsden.

Who else? Liking the WR room and then seeing reports of the FO being really interested in a bunch of really good to elite WRs tells me they actually like it but it’s missing an elite X.

You know im not saying that. Seeing reports of what Hortiz is interested in and what it would cost to me is like reading a comic book on X. Its like this every year before FA'cy and how much of that has come to be true?
Do you really think Hortiz will give up two firsts or a 1sy and 2nd for AJ Brown? Wouldnt that just kill our draft and weaken our ability to get what we still would need? Sure we can use a true #1, but there are ways to get it than kill your draft. saying they know what they have in him, we dont and can be a field stretcher.

If you are hoping we sign a reciever in that 30 mil range or trading two high picks for one, you going to be waiting a long time.
Id take Likely as well. He isnt elite but you just said you would take him lol.

We seem to always want to upgrade poissitions when we have players but didnt do much as rookies....like Henley, then all the sudden he balled out. Everyone wanted more DL last year, then Egboiuke came to life. Is Colson going to work out? Because id like to draft Jacob Rodriguez really bad. But idk about Colson now.
Im just saying we may have a guy who didnt play much last year.....but only they know that at this point. I sure dont but they do. We'll find out really soon tho.

[Boltnut]

Here are your offensive weapons...

Herbert: 1st round
Slater: 1st round
Alt: 1st round
QJ: 1st round
Ladd: early 2nd round
Harris: 2nd round
Hampton: 1st round

I guess abetter question is... how come O'leary can't have any weapons...?
Who's the rookie here...? McDaniel or O'Leary...?

[Jack Burton]

In 2024, Ladd McConkey was a weapon... 10th most receiving yards 1,150 yards.
In 2025, QJ was on pace for 1,700 yards (after 3 games)... until Alt went down and we cycled OT's throughout the rest of the year.
In 2026, I expect Tre Harris to improve on 2025.

QJ, Ladd, Harris, Gadsden, Hampton, Vidal... if you keep Herbert protected, we have adequate weapons. Remember, Harbaugh believes that O-linemen are weapons, too. Also remember, McD will use his RB's in the passing game, too.

Also worth considering... O'Leary will blitz more than Minter. Devin Lloyd as a blitzing LB would cause chaos.
Imagine Lloyd in the middle... James in the slot... and Henly on the other side...
Where is the blitz coming from...? Add another cover CB (via free agency) and the opposing offensive coordinator has their work cut out for them.

Create turnovers... and help your offense.

I’d love Lloyd. Now we’re talking! He would be a monster upgrade. He had 5 picks last year. I love that idea.
Ladd McConkey was the only weapon in 2024. lol.
QJ has spurts but he simply can’t be counted on to be consistent as a true #1 WR. He simply isn’t.

I like adequate weapons but I think if you are going to really compete with Denver and get to the AFCCG, you’ve got to upgrade to “elite weapons.”

[Jack Burton]

Here are your offensive weapons...

Herbert: 1st round
Slater: 1st round
Alt: 1st round
QJ: 1st round
Ladd: early 2nd round
Harris: 2nd round
Hampton: 1st round

I guess abetter question is... how come O'leary can't have any weapons...?
Who's the rookie here...? McDaniel or O'Leary...?

Why can’t they BOTH have better weapons? That’s what I’m trying to understand here.
They have the money, why can’t they just go get what they need?

[Jack Burton]

You know im not saying that. Seeing reports of what Hortiz is interested in and what it would cost to me is like reading a comic book on X. Its like this every year before FA'cy and how much of that has come to be true?
Do you really think Hortiz will give up two firsts or a 1sy and 2nd for AJ Brown? Wouldnt that just kill our draft and weaken our ability to get what we still would need? Sure we can use a true #1, but there are ways to get it than kill your draft. saying they know what they have in him, we dont and can be a field stretcher.

If you are hoping we sign a reciever in that 30 mil range or trading two high picks for one, you going to be waiting a long time.
Id take Likely as well. He isnt elite but you just said you would take him lol.

We seem to always want to upgrade poissitions when we have players but didnt do much as rookies....like Henley, then all the sudden he balled out. Everyone wanted more DL last year, then Egboiuke came to life. Is Colson going to work out? Because id like to draft Jacob Rodriguez really bad. But idk about Colson now.
Im just saying we may have a guy who didnt play much last year.....but only they know that at this point. I sure dont but they do. We'll find out really soon tho.

I don’t want to trade for Brown for what you propose. Thats ridiculous. But you don’t have to. You can just sign Pierce or a Devin Lloyd for the defense. They have the money. They have plenty of money to sign these guys and then get another good LG and defensive FAs too. They have the money. They have a crap ton of money next year too.

[electricgold]

Jolt, are you telling me that because KLS ran a fast 40 that he’s on the level with one of the most elite WRs in the game? Why are you talking about pretty decent? How about really good to elite? Is that so wrong? Of course Indy wants Pierce. He’s really, really good. I haven’t seen any reports of teams clamoring to acquire KLS….

Likely would be a really good upgrade to pair with Gadsden.

Who else? Liking the WR room and then seeing reports of the FO being really interested in a bunch of really good to elite WRs tells me they actually like it but it’s missing an elite X.

It seems like a lot of posters here are stuck on Value! Getting Value players first and foremost and comp picks a close 2nd? We keep just getting value players and we never get any better! So far that's what Hortiz has done and we have stayed the same both seasons. 11 wins and one and done. IF we are a one and done team again this season with a handful of value signings, Hortiz moves to the hot seat. HE's a good drafting GM no doubt about it, but so far his free agent signings have not really worked out so much.

Look at what the Pats and Seahawks did! They added top notch Free agents coming off of subpar seasons and well you know the rest...

[Jack Burton]

It seems like a lot of posters here are stuck on Value! Getting Value players first and foremost and comp picks a close 2nd? We keep just getting value players and we never get any better! So far that's what Hortiz has done and we have stayed the same both seasons. 11 wins and one and done. IF we are a one and done team again this season with a handful of value signings, Hortiz moves to the hot seat. HE's a good drafting GM but his free agent signings have not really worked out so much.

Look at what the Pats and Seahawks did! They added top notch Free agents coming off of subpar seasons and well you know the rest...

Adding to this, the Chargers have the money this year and next year to just go get the elite FA players.
What’s so wrong with this? Why cant the Chargers do what the two teams in the SB did?

[gzubeck]

It seems like a lot of posters here are stuck on Value! Getting Value players first and foremost and comp picks a close 2nd? We keep just getting value players and we never get any better! So far that's what Hortiz has done and we have stayed the same both seasons. 11 wins and one and done. IF we are a one and done team again this season with a handful of value signings, Hortiz moves to the hot seat. HE's a good drafting GM no doubt about it, but so far his free agent signings have not really worked out so much.

Look at what the Pats and Seahawks did! They added top notch Free agents coming off of subpar seasons and well you know the rest...

Little bit of good luck for them and a lot of bad luck for us the past season. Gro was just icing on the bad luck train...Totally new brains on the offensive side of the ball and a little good luck and things will turn around.