Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[beachcomber]

I never said he would pass Perryman - I said it would be nice for Chargers, a nice surprise if Colson lives up to his 3rd round status, has a good off-season, a good training campe makes the decision more difficult. And if that makes Denzel expendable -- so be it . For the record, I wouldn't bet on it happening - but just hoping Colson has a good camp

As for Keenan - the proof is out there. He is slowing down. For the 2025 season, his ypc were down by a yard over 2024 which was a yard over the previous two seasons. And the last part of 2025, the last half dozen games, he had further decline in his game. He has had an outstanding career - but he is not the same player. And based on last off-season and this one, seems most of the league agrees with me.

ftr, am also hopeful that someone pops outta the LB group, and.... would be a surprise @tm, and...

if Keenan is slowing down and in decline, then so is Ladd.... sixteen fewer receptions on only six fewer targets, two less YPC than the year before, and noticeably fewer first downs....

the problem is not w/our wideout room.... Ladd had all the receptions and yards he wanted against Houston in his first playoffs, and where did that get/leave us ??

Jennings, DK Metcalf or fill in the blank is not gonna get us over the hump.... PR or Justin need one thing, and that's a healthy LT.... check out the stats w/or without Joe Alt last season.

if our QB has a solid LT, then we are money.... let alone if we have Alt & Rashawn, let alone again if we have Joe, Rashawn and Biadasz, and yes.... would be nice to have better guards, and....

our line is gonna be hellah better than last year, and Joe is not done yet....

[beachcomber]

I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment, Beach.
Joe got OG last draft... celebrate!

hah.... not exactly sure what you're getting at, other than you think my odds are long that we draft LB round one ??

took a lotta heat from Ninja for my Tristan Wirfs fandom, and was off a bit on that one, as Justin was the better pick.

and will remind you that was a Cedric Gray fan rather than Colson when they came out, and....

it won't be the first nor last time if CJ Allen isn't the guy, and even then.... had Zion once upon a time, and most here would not give plaudits for that pick (and save that he was still the better Olineman than all but one first round OL after him).

personally would be choosing between CJ Allen/Kayden McDonald for their run stoppingness, or Pregnon/Lomu for their starting ability on the Oline ??

Mesidor and edge are OMB/off my board btw....

[Boltnut]

hah.... not exactly sure what you're getting at, other than you think my odds are long that we draft LB round one ??

took a lotta heat from Ninja for my Tristan Wirfs fandom, and was off a bit on that one, as Justin was the better pick.

and will remind you that was a Cedric Gray fan rather than Colson when they came out, and....

it won't be the first nor last time if CJ Allen isn't the guy, and even then.... had Zion once upon a time, and most here would not give plaudits for that pick (and save that he was still the better Olineman than all but one first round OL after him).

personally would be choosing between CJ Allen/Kayden McDonald for their run stoppingness, or Pregnon/Lomu for their starting ability on the Oline ??

Mesidor and edge are OMB/off my board btw....

Yeah, I saw that you're worried about Mesidor's foot... but wasn't that 2 years ago?
He put together a pretty nice year last year. I think he's fine.

I haven't given up on Colson yet... kid had some bad luck. He was healthy in college.
Daiyan was my guy... he sat out his rookie season. Sometimes it takes LB's a year to get up to speed.

Cedrick Gray was a nice call.
McDonald, Pregnon, Lamu... all of them would be fine with me.
If Fano fell... I would be elated. Probably won't happen.

I would be surprised if LB were the pick in round 1.
But unlike the last 2 years (Alt and Hampton)... I don't have a feel for what Joe will do this draft.

[beachcomber]

Yeah, I saw that you're worried about Mesidor's foot... but wasn't that 2 years ago?
He put together a pretty nice year last year. I think he's fine.

I haven't given up on Colson yet... kid had some bad luck. He was healthy in college.
Daiyan was my guy... he sat out his rookie season. Sometimes it takes LB's a year to get up to speed.

Cedrick Gray was a nice call.
McDonald, Pregnon, Lamu... all of them would be fine with me.
If Fano fell... I would be elated. Probably won't happen.

I would be surprised if LB were the pick in round 1.
But unlike the last 2 years (Alt and Hampton)... I don't have a feel for what Joe will do this draft.

yeah, I think if we do go edge round one.... Mesidor is the gambit, and yes again.... does make me a bit nervous w/the foot, and you're prolly/hopefully right that he'll be alright.

and my suspicion w/Colson, was the whole green dot thing, and that they heaped the whole D on him before he even got his NFL footing under him.... don't know the specifics, albeit sure seems he had alot more to deal w/than just acclimating to the NFL.... don't know if it was as bad as Leaf having to deal w/Gilbride and Seau not giving up his team leader status without some serious digs and then some.

and would be surprised if LB was the pick round one, and.... do think CJ Allen would be an awfully fine pick, and for the if and when it were to be.

[dmac_bolt]

QUOTE: Make arguments without the “being a first round pick” because that hasn’t mattered for 3 years now. QJ didn’t draft himself. Would you want to dump him if he were a 5th round pick?

What WR are you getting for the ~$2.6M base salary he costs this year? It’s fully guaranteed so cutting him takes that cap hit and you then have to pay another receiver. What are you adding to your trade to get it done, now you’ve declared whoever it is is >>> QJ? A 2026 draft pick? Which one(s)? You saw what Waddle went for, you giving up your first and third for a 4th back? Who are you cutting to pay for that $20M+ receiver?

BTW we have three sub-4.4 receivers on the roster today. What we don’t have is an elite dominant physical X that will swat away DBs like flies and take their lunch money. QUOTE

When you draft a WR in the first round you expect a little bit more than what QJ has done so far production wise. Especially with Herbert throwing you the ball.

Since we only have 5 draft picks and we need an X I'd trade QJ for a 3rd round pick(would any team even offer a 3rd for him?) and draft either Ted Hurst or Chris Brazzell in the 2nd round if possible and go from there.

I get your emotion any time a Rd1 pick isn’t a home run but it’s still emotion. “When you draft a WR in the 1st …” is not a relevant criteria in year 4.

Hurst is an interesting / good prospect - in a few ways he gets scout evaluations with concerns similar to what you dislike in Q. Focus drops, lower catch rate, needs better route discipline. He could be good in time but looks like he’ll need to develop, he may not produce in 2026 if that’s your goal for an immediate upgrade. Could be no real net change for 2026 roster production while using a 3rd that could possibly be a starter or significant contributor somewhere else.

[dmac_bolt]

yeah, I think if we do go edge round one.... Mesidor is the gambit, and yes again.... does make me a bit nervous w/the foot, and you're prolly/hopefully right that he'll be alright.

and my suspicion w/Colson, was the whole green dot thing, and that they heaped the whole D on him before he even got his NFL footing under him.... don't know the specifics, albeit sure seems he had alot more to deal w/than just acclimating to the NFL.... don't know if it was as bad as Leaf having to deal w/Gilbride and Seau not giving up his team leader status without some serious digs and then some.

and would be surprised if LB was the pick round one, and.... do think CJ Allen would be an awfully fine pick, and for the if and when it were to be.

There’s the age question too - he’s 25 in about a week. The end of the Covid bubble is working its way thru. He’s a superior pass rusher when he’s on, can’t argue talent but at 25 there is less hope for more added upside - ??

[Bolt4Knob]

There’s the age question too - he’s 25 in about a week. The end of the Covid bubble is working its way thru. He’s a superior pass rusher when he’s on, can’t argue talent but at 25 there is less hope for more added upside - ??

With Mesidor -- its basically one contract. Maybe part of a second. That is the reality. Now if he is a good player for those 5 years -- you live with it. But with first rounders - you want to get that second contract to get 7 or 8 years plus out of a FRP at good play.

I still am of the mindset - when you look at the roster, look at the free agents after the 2026 season, the ages of certain players, trade down, trade down, trade down, and see if you can get IDL, Edge, CB, OC, OG, OT plus maybe TE or WR. Get the depth in the building this year. I get there is a dopamine hit about a first round draft pick but the Chargers need a shit load more than a player that probably won't even have a true first round grade.

[Boltnut]

There’s the age question too - he’s 25 in about a week. The end of the Covid bubble is working its way thru. He’s a superior pass rusher when he’s on, can’t argue talent but at 25 there is less hope for more added upside - ??

He plays fast and he's physical. The Miami defense played exactly the way O'Leary wants to play... attacking... causing chaos.
Maybe the fact that he's "older" plays to his advantage. Maybe he's ready for the speed and physicality of the NFL game now.
With Mack being near the end of his career... take advantage of an NFL-ready edge now. Now is the time!

We are very close to Super Bowl ready. The recent Super Bowl winners have all had superior defenses.
My recent favorite mocks have been mocks in which I choose two Miami Hurricanes in the 1st and 2nd rounds... Mesidor and CB Keionte Scott. They play physical and fast...

IMO, the 3rd round is where you get your starting IOL.

[Boltjolt]

yeah, I think if we do go edge round one.... Mesidor is the gambit, and yes again.... does make me a bit nervous w/the foot, and you're prolly/hopefully right that he'll be alright.

and my suspicion w/Colson, was the whole green dot thing, and that they heaped the whole D on him before he even got his NFL footing under him.... don't know the specifics, albeit sure seems he had alot more to deal w/than just acclimating to the NFL.... don't know if it was as bad as Leaf having to deal w/Gilbride and Seau not giving up his team leader status without some serious digs and then some.

and would be surprised if LB was the pick round one, and.... do think CJ Allen would be an awfully fine pick, and for the if and when it were to be.

Im concerned as well but if we pick him, ill assume they did an extensive search into his foot injuries. His isnt as concerning as Banks though.

[Boltjolt]

There’s the age question too - he’s 25 in about a week. The end of the Covid bubble is working its way thru. He’s a superior pass rusher when he’s on, can’t argue talent but at 25 there is less hope for more added upside - ??

The age thing is a bit of a concern but....with Hortiz playing the comp pick game he will be 30 if he plays 5 years with us and if he is playing great, Joe will let him walk for a 3rd round comp as im sure Mesidor or any guys that will be 25-26 wont want to resign for 1 or 2 years. So the age thing is a concern but how many guys will he resign that will cost 35 mil or so a year by that time? Especially at that age?

[powderblueboy]

The age thing is a bit of a concern but....with Hortiz playing the comp pick game he will be 30 if he plays 5 years with us and if he is playing great, Joe will let him walk for a 3rd round comp as im sure Mesidor or any guys that will be 25-26 wont want to resign for 1 or 2 years. So the age thing is a concern but how many guys will he resign that will cost 35 mil or so a year by that time? Especially at that age?

I think that would be playing the comp game a bit too fine .... choosing a guy in the first you plan on letting walk in 5 years.

Quite frankly, a 24 - 25 year old man, with 6 years of college football experience, bullying 20 year olds scares me a bit ... then you add in his injury history.

They may well be forced to go that way, which tells you how badly Hortiz has bungled things this off-season.

[Boltjolt]

I think that would be playing the comp game a bit too fine .... choosing a guy in the first you plan on letting walk in 5 years.

Quite frankly, a 24 - 25 year old man bullying 20 year olds scares me a bit ... then you add in his injury history.

They may well be forced to go that way, which tells you how badly Hortiz has bungled things this off-season.

I dont know, it depends which is the wait and see here. I woouldnt say "planning to let walk". It also depends on the player. It will be his last contract.

Hendrickson didnt get snapped up quick. He is 31 now. Didnt get traded last year at 30. He had value but they didnt really want to trade him. It really depends for Hoirtiz in 5 years and where we are at.
I dont think he has bungled anything right now. He just didnt get the instant fix most here want to see....and thats only at OG. He isnt done yet, you are just one of the impatient ones.