Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[powderblueboy]

Not its not what I am saying at all. Who is throwing in the towel just because I want to spend money on players other than Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. I have already said that I want 10 draft picks, 8 by the 5th round. The team has a lot of holes to fill and I don't think its wise t blow their wad and recreate a 2022 offseason where Telesco and Staley pushed a helluva lot of chips and came up with a 5-12 team two years later. I have said that if I can spend money on a player like Wilkins or Madubuike, it would be a better use of funds than paying Bosa again and even Mack because more likely they will not decline in a year or two

Another thing to consider is that maybe Harbaugh and Hortiz actually need to SEE the players on the field in real games to truly evaluate what they have and don't have. My plan is this

1) get draft picks
2) target one or maybe two players in free agency that really fill need positions. Maybe like a Center or whatever
3) the rest of free agency sign free agent players, in the second and third year to one year prove it deals - fill in a lot of positions: Center, TE, RB, IDL, LB, maybe another position in free agency
3) clean up the cap and limit the Eric Kendricks type signings

Coach them up, compete in 2024 and a year from now in free agency - Hortiz and Harbaugh will have a clearer picture of what they need both in terms of free agency and the draft.

I don't want to use free agency to build the roster - I want to use the draft.

Do you think Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell were quitters going into the 2022 season? Results turned out pretty good - didn't they. Went to the NFL Championship where the Chargers were home playing pocket pool

Free agent players in their 2nd to 3rd year have been waived. They'll pretty much take whatever contract comes their way .... its essentially a 'prove it deal'.
Anyways, finding good players who will accept 'prove it deals', akin to finding gold on the street, is not 'building' your roster .... its temporarily filling holes.

[Boltnut]

What about mike williams, does he get a pass for his injury history too? Let's keep all of them and just play a bunch of backups again next year when KA , Bosa, and MW take turns missing big chunks of the year...I'm not putting Mack into that because he's never had injury marred seasons, the guy has been a warrior then he suffered a serious foot injury like the one Antonio gates had back in the day, I predicted when we traded for him that people needed to be patient with him and because he was older that his second year would be a better indication of what he could do, but he didn't miss a game in 2022 either if I recall correctly even though he was coming back from the surgery to his foot, and then he played all season last year as well...

MW is a cut for me... we almost have to do that to get under the cap. KA is a keep for me... largely because we'll have to cut MW and need at least 1 good WR. Both Mack and Joey I'm good with whatever Hortiz decides. The biggest question for me is how much we can get in trade for those guys... the other question is do they fit the system...? Mack obviously saves us more cap space than Joey... so that has to be a consideration. If you cut both... then you have to get an edge player in the draft. How much draft capital do you have to spend...? Is it the same capital you got in return for the players you traded/cut...?

I'm open minded to all scenarios.

[blueman]

What is your plan? Oh yes, its keep Khalil Mack and sign a bunch of UDFAs

good plan - really good plan.

I said that? Where?

If we can afford both reasonably, why not? I guess we have different definitions of what’s reasonable, okay. Glad smarter minds than any of us will be making these tough decisions.

[wu-dai clan]

I like Raisin Bran.
Like Joey, it has more fiber than you realize.

This is all dependent
-not on whether or not posters like Bosa.

It is dependent on other factors.
--projected future health.
--player willingness to take a pay cut.

None of us know that.
None of us are Precogs.

Thanks for sharing your feelings.
I truly care about you Sensie Boys.
Or is it "Sensei Boys" ?
Maybe "Sensi Boys" ?

Oh well.
Here's my take.
Joe keeps 'em all.
Finds a way.
Through skillful negotiation.

All that talent level
that most here would dispose of
in a wink.

Joe builds depth.
By trading down.
For later and future picks.

And...one year "prove it" contracts
lead to future comp picks TPB.

[Bolt4Knob]

I said that? Where?

If we can afford both reasonably, why not? I guess we have different definitions of what’s reasonable, okay. Glad smarter minds than any of us will be making these tough decisions.

You didn't refute it - so yes, you want the team built with Khalil Mack and dumpster diving

Now truly - I do not believe you meant it just proving a point. Like I am not saying the team should give up on 2024. Just that building a team for longer term success Now maybe they can keep Mack - and I did point out they probably can figure it out (Bosa and MW - don't see it at all) and still not sacrifice the future.

What Telesco and Staley tried to do last year was draw to an inside straight. I want something that has a little better odds of long term success. Of course I would like to see the Chargers do what the Texans did in 2023. I just don't want it to be so short sighted that in two years they have cap issues being overzealous trying to win it all this year.

[Boltnut]

Yes, get rid of all the expensive gimps. You forgot the JC Jackson fiasco as well...The only player that gets any kind of reprieve is your QB...this is why I absolutely hate all this guaranteed money. Sure...pay for half of their salary if they go down for the season. But having to pay all this stuff for multiple years is just too much. We have reached the apex of guaranteed money folly in the NFL. Now we need solid risk assessment in determining if a player is WORTH the RISK! Last season we ended up playing with a bunch of scrubs due to all the gambling of Telesco and Staley playing with the Spanos money and not really caring about the damage they were doing. Even KA has been injured multiple games during the season for the past two seasons. The only player worth keeping is Mack and maybe Derwin cause he's paid for.

LOL! Most people here would love it if I forgot about the JCJ signing. I said at the time that it was way too much guaranteed money. I said we'd be having these exact same conversations now. I wanted Trent McDuffie! Then... after JCJ's injury, I told everyone that the chances of him recovering from *****lar surgery were slim. You know who I wanted last year...? A CB...

When we had all 5 on big contracts (KA, MW, JCJ, Mack, and Bosa) I knew we were locked into drafting a guard the 1st year, a WR the next year, and an edge this year. Well, here we are. And if we cut/trade both Bosa and Mack this off-season... guess what we have to draft this year...? Does that sound like sound decision making?

Luckily we have a GM with a record for trading back and accumulating picks/players. I will be very surprised if we stay at #5 at pick a TE... or WR. I would suggest a trade back... to fill some of the many holes in the roster, created by poor decisions. CB, center, RT, LB, IDL, RB, TE... and of course OLB (especially if we cut/trade both Mack and Bosa).

Luckily, we also have a DC that seems to be able to build a good defense... even without elite edge players. This is the one and only circumstance that may allow us to trade both Mack and Bosa. But make no mistake, we will be extremely thin at edge and be forced to use that pick we get for Bosa on another edge rusher... that will not be nearly as effective as a healthy Bosa. I'm not completely against trading Bosa (if leadership makes that decision)... but it sure AF won't be because he MAY get injured next year... it sure AF won't be because he likes eating Raisin Bran or throwing his helmet.

[blueman]

You didn't refute it - so yes, you want the team built with Khalil Mack and dumpster diving

Now truly - I do not believe you meant it just proving a point. Like I am not saying the team should give up on 2024. Just that building a team for longer term success Now maybe they can keep Mack - and I did point out they probably can figure it out (Bosa and MW - don't see it at all) and still not sacrifice the future.

What Telesco and Staley tried to do last year was draw to an inside straight. I want something that has a little better odds of long term success. Of course I would like to see the Chargers do what the Texans did in 2023. I just don't want it to be so short sighted that in two years they have cap issues being overzealous trying to win it all this year.

I think you’re mistaken in assuming keeping Mack automatically entails dumpster diving.

And again, all your arguments only point to one thing: 2024 is to be a write off. Not sure how you can say winning in 2024 if your goal when your goal is also fielding a lesser team now so we can (hopefully) field better teams down the road. They don’t coexist, by your own definitions.

But really, Harbaugh and Horitz will craft the best team they’re able this year, and of course with an eye toward future years, as all good front offices do. Not sure why anyone would expect less after all the money we spent on them. And not sure why all this is so black and white, the reality will likely be some shade of gray (hope you like gray…).

[Boltnut]

I look at Bosa's injuries differently. It's the fact that he's been injured in so many different ways that's concerning. It seems like either his body is breaking down (no matter what he does to prepare), OR he's not putting enough effort into his physical preparation (lazy), OR (worst case) he shuts it down when he experiences a minor injury to avoid making it worse and affecting his career and his ability to earn.

None of this is good, and there's no way we should be using up a sizable chunk on the cap for him. IMO - without any proof other than what my eyes and brain tell me - I think Joey's issue is mostly the latter of the 3 presented above. Remember - Joey is all about the money . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joey's first injury was a LisFranc injury. This injury doesn't occur because someone is "lazy" or because he didn't "prepare" properly. The same goes for his groin injury. IIRC, these are the same injuries Gates and LT had. In fact, I believe he played through the groin injury for much of that season. This hardly suggests that he's a guy that "shuts it down"...

If Hortiz finds a trade partner... and can get good return... then I'm fine with that. But it will be for the return-on-investment, or that they think he's not a fit in Minter's defense. It won't be because he had a sprained ankle last year... or eats Raisin Bran... or throws his helmet. It won't be an emotional decision... it will be a football/business decision.

[wu-dai clan]

KA/MW.
Slater/Alt.
Mack/Bosa.

We have a chance to have elite bookends in all three crucial positions.

How much is that worth ?

Joe says compete now-no rip the bandaid off.

Jesse says look at them EDGE-Pass Rushers.

Jim says go get that Pistachio Trophy.

Read the tea leaves !

[sonorajim]

I think you’re mistaken in assuming keeping Mack automatically entails dumpster diving.

And again, all your arguments only point to one thing: 2024 is to be a write off. Not sure how you can say winning in 2024 if your goal when your goal is also fielding a lesser team now so we can (hopefully) field better teams down the road. They don’t coexist, by your own definitions.

But really, Harbaugh and Horitz will craft the best team they’re able this year, and of course with an eye toward future years, as all good front offices do. Not sure why anyone would expect less after all the money we spent on them. And not sure why all this is so black and white, the reality will likely be some shade of gray (hope you like gray…).

The 2024 Chargers will be far better coached trained and talented than the 2022 team that Staley took to the playoffs.
Apparently we can't expect to win as many games since we were over the cap and the roster is full of "holes".
I see the need for a quality C and Roman's #1 RB. Everything else is upgrades.
I'm shocked that some PBs seem to think that Harbaugh can't beat Staley's best year right out of the gate.

[Maniaque 6]

60% of the money on 2 wrs and 2 olbs ?
Are you kiding me ?

[wu-dai clan]

The 2024 Chargers will be far better coached trained and talented than the 2022 team that Staley took to the playoffs.
Apparently we can't expect to win as many games since we were over the cap and the roster is full of "holes".
I see the need for a quality C and Roman's #1 RB. Everything else is upgrades.
I'm shocked that some PBs seem to think that Harbaugh can't beat Staley's best year right out of the gate.

Hortiz is no dumbass.
He will get the salary dispersement in order.
Cap magic will leave us with only those few holes you mention and little else.
A healthy depth chart will be the final thing.
We can take down KC.
With the rest of the league in awe.