Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[CivilBolt]

Ditto. Most of his longer injuries have been soft tissue types - I trust Ben to strengthen. Any guy making north of $20M should be in the facility, setting an example, putting in that $20M of effort. No more swamp gator wrassling training on your own.

It will be interesting to see if they cut bait. Kicking his can down the road could instead sign a different younger FA Edge player and kick that can for 2024 cap relief. I can see them doing either- really no idea. Good edge players are gonna cost and just stripping the roster and betting on the draft is risky - there isn’t that monster guy worth a #5, or I don’t know if there is. They will scout and decide, TRUST.

Mack - I think I’d ride that contract out, or extend 1 more year with an out to squeeze a little dead cap to 2025. He earns his pay, he’s a Harbaugh type of player, he sets a tough tone for the entire team. Ya wanna get tougher, Mack’s a guy to go to war with. A late 3rd, or 4th won’t come close to what he brings.

Hoping we trade Bosa before Mack. Mack has a very high motor and just wants to show you what he can do rather than talk.

[Bolt4Knob]

the guy @Michigan that shared the backfield w/Corum was.... Donovan Edwards (he returned to school for 2024.... will come out for the '025)

Daijun Edwards shared the backfield w/Kendall Milton @Georgia,

Got it - thanks

Georgia - bunch of good players down there

[Bolt4Knob]

The current intel is that the best the Chargers can get for Khalil Mack is a late round 3, and that he is who we will be able to trade.

Detroit Lions has been the team that makes sense for Mack if traded
they have two third round picks
they have the cap space
the offense is in a good place and the defense could use some improvements - that means spending or drafting
I have read they want a DE opposite Aidan Hutchinson

[Berserker76]

Can't see any way we keep Bosa. Does he seem like the type of guy Harbaugh wants on his team? Anyone?

[Bolt4Knob]

The latest from Popper. Good stuff. Harbaugh is basically Pete Carroll, Belichick and Andy Reid - the run the organization.
The Jim Harbaugh experience and what we heard about the Chargers at the NFL combine


By Daniel Popper
3h ago

8

---

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Harbaugh walked into the hotel meeting room, backpack draped over one shoulder. His son Jack — Little Jack, as he is called, to differentiate from Harbaugh’s father Jack, who was also in town — trailed behind him. Harbaugh wore a blue and yellow checkered shirt tucked into dark pants, an outfit that has become a uniform of sorts for his formal public appearances during this first month as Los Angeles Chargers head coach.

We shook hands and said hello. Harbaugh introduced Little Jack. We all sat down. Within a minute, Harbaugh was shaking his head with a smile and uttering these words over and over: “Best damn job I’ve ever had.”

With that, the NFL combine was in full swing. It was the first of many Chargers conversations I had around Indy. The topics varied. The draft. The coaching staff. The cap situation. The roster.


My parting thoughts from an eventful week:

1. The biggest Chargers takeaway from combine week: The Jim Harbaugh Experience is in full effect. He is very clearly influencing all facets of the organization, and that is exactly what the Chargers expected when they invested in him as their head coach. The best way to describe the feeling right now is optimistic anticipation. This is new territory for the franchise. The Chargers are fascinating right now, because of what could be, because of the possibilities. Harbaugh has the keys, and the question now is this: Where will he take them?

Jim Harbaugh has already brought optimism and enthusiasm to the Chargers. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

2. Harbaugh used the term “low-hanging fruit” several times when I sat down with him. He used it in reference to his initial conversations with players. He also used it in reference to the organization as a whole. His cultural philosophy revolves around a pretty simple premise: How do the Chargers get better at football? And at these early stages, he is focusing on the immediate, apparent corrections. Remember, on the day before his introductory news conference on Feb. 1, Harbaugh was in Home Depot at 6 a.m. buying a Shop-Vac. He took it to the Chargers’ Orange County facility and vacuumed out the weight room. Little things. Low-hanging fruit. Over time, those add up to what we all know as culture.


3. The man in charge of that weight room now is executive director of player performance Ben Herbert, who Harbaugh brought with him from Michigan. I asked Harbaugh why Herbert was such a priority for him when he was building his staff. I also asked about the qualities that make Herbert great at his specific role. Harbaugh’s answer weaved through stabilizer muscles and ankle joints and Ferraris. Ultimately, he ended by describing a delicate balance: Herbert blends the new-school science of sports performance with old-school, tried-and-true hard work. A Herbert workout, Harbaugh said, “doesn’t rinse off in the shower.” He flexed after saying that. With a huge grin on his face.




4. As general manager Joe Hortiz said Tuesday, the Chargers’ process right now is “a cross between installing the offense, installing the defense while evaluating the players.” Harbaugh is heavily involved in all the offensive meetings, which were continuing with the staff in Indianapolis, and he mentioned a pass protection meeting that was particularly illuminating and productive. Greg Roman is the offensive coordinator and will be calling the plays. But the offensive vision will be filtered through Harbaugh. That much is clear. And while the stated goal is to develop a reliable run game, I got the sense from multiple conversations that the Chargers will be utilizing and leaning into what is their greatest organizational asset: Justin Herbert’s right arm. This should not be a surprise, but it needs to be stated.


Chargers' salary cap, changes at running back and more from GM Joe Hortiz

5. Many of my conversations centered around the Chargers’ cap situation, and for good reason. How the Chargers approach their cap sheet will set the tone for the rest of their offseason. The team restructured four contracts in 2023. As a result, Khalil Mack ($38.52 million) and Joey Bosa ($36.61 million) have the two highest 2024 cap hits among NFL edge rushers, and Keenan Allen ($34.72 million) and Mike Williams ($32.46 million) have the two highest cap hits among NFL receivers, according to Over the Cap.

How do the Chargers deal with these four veteran contracts? Factoring in the space needed to pay draft picks and reach the 51-player roster minimum, the Chargers are $31.7 million over the cap. To be compliant, they must clear at least that much by the time the new league year begins March 13. The rather obvious first step is cutting Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in Week 3 this past season. That move would save the Chargers $20 million in space and would put them within striking distance of compliance. The next logical move is signing Allen to an extension.

I think Allen, who turns 32 in April, played well enough last season to show that he has multiple productive seasons left. Allen said in January that he wants to retire as a Charger: “I don’t want to go nowhere else.” There should be incentive on both sides to get an extension done. Allen has $11.62 million in prorated signing bonus remaining on his current deal for 2024. The Chargers will have to wear that on the cap even if they get an extension done. Beyond that, though, they have plenty of flexibility as far as lowering Allen’s cap hit for 2024 on a new deal. His $18.1 million base salary, for instance, is not guaranteed, and that gives them room to maneuver with a potential new deal. The Chargers could realistically get cap-compliant with these two moves: cutting Williams and extending Allen.

There seems to be incentive on both sides for the Chargers to extend Keenan Allen. (Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

The Chargers must then decide what they want to do with the two edge rushers. I think there should be a trade market for both players. Bosa, who does not turn 29 until July, will probably be more attractive because of his age. Mack turned 33 in February. How aggressive are the Chargers in the trade market with Bosa and Mack? That is an unanswered question. I was told by one league source the Chargers had yet to start gauging trade interest on Mack and Bosa. But that does not mean it won’t happen. A Bosa trade before June 1 would save the Chargers $14.39 million, according to Over the Cap. After June 1, they would save $22 million. A trading team would be taking on the final two years of Bosa’s contract, which pays him a base salary of $15 million in 2024 and $17 million in 2025. Mack only has one year remaining on his deal, so the cap savings are the same for pre- and post-June 1: $23.25 million. A post-June 1 designation on a cut or trade allows a team to spread dead money over multiple seasons.



I think a logical result is the Chargers keeping one of the two edge rushers and trading the other. But I do not have a good sense right now of who is likelier to be traded.

6. One landing spot for Mack that could make a lot of sense is Detroit. The Lions have $53.2 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. The caveat is that the Lions have a few extensions they might need to handle this offseason. Quarterback Jared Goff is in the final year of his deal. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is in the final year of his deal. And right tackle Penei Sewell is extension-eligible this offseason. Those could be limiting factors in a potential Mack deal. At the same time, the Lions could either extend Mack or add void years to make the 2024 cap hit more palatable. And he feels like a good fit for the roster. Mack is still an elite player, and I think pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson is intriguing. Mack wants a shot at a Super Bowl, and the Lions would provide that. The Lions have the 163rd pick in the fifth round. They also have the 92nd pick in the third round. They do not have a fourth-round pick. Would the Lions offer either the fifth or the late third for Mack? I think the Chargers would have to strongly consider that type of offer.

7. And that brings us to the draft. I think the Chargers are going to be active in trying to trade down from No. 5 in the first round. But it takes two teams to make a deal. So it is worthwhile to consider potential partners. The best-case scenario for the Chargers is a team wanting to trade up to five for a quarterback. At the same time, it is hard to see one of the top three QBs — USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels — falling out of the top three picks. A team trading up to five would more than likely be making that move for a different quarterback, perhaps Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

I see four potential partners who might trade up in this scenario: the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. There are potential veterans options, though. For example, the Falcons could trade for the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields, or the Minnesota Vikings could re-sign Kirk Cousins. If those teams go with veteran options or they don’t like any of the quarterbacks enough outside of the top three, that shrinks the pool for the Chargers as far as QB-needy teams willing to trade up. In that case, they could instead look for a trading partner trying to move up for one of the receivers, Washington’s Rome Odense or LSU’s Malik Nabers. Or, of course, they could just make the pick.

As Hortiz said at his introductory news conference: “There’s times where that phone doesn’t ring, and you better be ready to pick.”

GO DEEPER

Lessons from Jim Harbaugh's Chargers playing days: 'He's ready for the fight'

8. If the Chargers can find a trade-down partner, I am curious to see what they ask in return. Do they prioritize 2024 capital? The Falcons have pick 43 in the second round and also two third-rounders, 74 and 79. The Vikings have pick 42 in the second round. Or do they prioritize future capital and push for a 2025 first? If the trade-down comes to fruition, the return — Day 2 picks in 2024 vs. first-round picks in 2025 — will tell us a lot about the Harbaugh-Hortiz timeline.

9. One coaching-staff addition I have not touched on yet is wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who spent the past two seasons as the Seattle Seahawks’ passing game coordinator and receivers coach. In Seattle, Lal was a key part of developing receiver DK Metcalf, an off-the-charts athlete and tester who needed to add some polish to his game. Sound familiar? How about 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston? Two different players, for sure. But there are some parallels in the testing numbers as far as height, arm length, vertical jump, broad jump, etc. Johnston had a rough rookie year. But he still has traits to work with. And the Chargers hope Lal might be able to apply some of his experience with Metcalf to Johnston’s development.

[Velo]

I think Allen, who turns 32 in April, played well enough last season to show that he has multiple productive seasons left.

Bingo. Zactly what I been sayin'.

Allen said in January that he wants to retire as a Charger: “I don’t want to go nowhere else.” There should be incentive on both sides to get an extension done. Allen has $11.62 million in prorated signing bonus remaining on his current deal for 2024.

Get it done. KA should play for the Chargers his entire career, like Gates.

[Berserker76]

The latest from Popper. Good stuff. Harbaugh is basically Pete Carroll, Belichick and Andy Reid - the run the organization.
The Jim Harbaugh experience and what we heard about the Chargers at the NFL combine


By Daniel Popper
3h ago

8

---

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Harbaugh walked into the hotel meeting room, backpack draped over one shoulder. His son Jack — Little Jack, as he is called, to differentiate from Harbaugh’s father Jack, who was also in town — trailed behind him. Harbaugh wore a blue and yellow checkered shirt tucked into dark pants, an outfit that has become a uniform of sorts for his formal public appearances during this first month as Los Angeles Chargers head coach.

We shook hands and said hello. Harbaugh introduced Little Jack. We all sat down. Within a minute, Harbaugh was shaking his head with a smile and uttering these words over and over: “Best damn job I’ve ever had.”

With that, the NFL combine was in full swing. It was the first of many Chargers conversations I had around Indy. The topics varied. The draft. The coaching staff. The cap situation. The roster.


My parting thoughts from an eventful week:

1. The biggest Chargers takeaway from combine week: The Jim Harbaugh Experience is in full effect. He is very clearly influencing all facets of the organization, and that is exactly what the Chargers expected when they invested in him as their head coach. The best way to describe the feeling right now is optimistic anticipation. This is new territory for the franchise. The Chargers are fascinating right now, because of what could be, because of the possibilities. Harbaugh has the keys, and the question now is this: Where will he take them?

Jim Harbaugh has already brought optimism and enthusiasm to the Chargers. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

2. Harbaugh used the term “low-hanging fruit” several times when I sat down with him. He used it in reference to his initial conversations with players. He also used it in reference to the organization as a whole. His cultural philosophy revolves around a pretty simple premise: How do the Chargers get better at football? And at these early stages, he is focusing on the immediate, apparent corrections. Remember, on the day before his introductory news conference on Feb. 1, Harbaugh was in Home Depot at 6 a.m. buying a Shop-Vac. He took it to the Chargers’ Orange County facility and vacuumed out the weight room. Little things. Low-hanging fruit. Over time, those add up to what we all know as culture.


3. The man in charge of that weight room now is executive director of player performance Ben Herbert, who Harbaugh brought with him from Michigan. I asked Harbaugh why Herbert was such a priority for him when he was building his staff. I also asked about the qualities that make Herbert great at his specific role. Harbaugh’s answer weaved through stabilizer muscles and ankle joints and Ferraris. Ultimately, he ended by describing a delicate balance: Herbert blends the new-school science of sports performance with old-school, tried-and-true hard work. A Herbert workout, Harbaugh said, “doesn’t rinse off in the shower.” He flexed after saying that. With a huge grin on his face.




4. As general manager Joe Hortiz said Tuesday, the Chargers’ process right now is “a cross between installing the offense, installing the defense while evaluating the players.” Harbaugh is heavily involved in all the offensive meetings, which were continuing with the staff in Indianapolis, and he mentioned a pass protection meeting that was particularly illuminating and productive. Greg Roman is the offensive coordinator and will be calling the plays. But the offensive vision will be filtered through Harbaugh. That much is clear. And while the stated goal is to develop a reliable run game, I got the sense from multiple conversations that the Chargers will be utilizing and leaning into what is their greatest organizational asset: Justin Herbert’s right arm. This should not be a surprise, but it needs to be stated.


Chargers' salary cap, changes at running back and more from GM Joe Hortiz

5. Many of my conversations centered around the Chargers’ cap situation, and for good reason. How the Chargers approach their cap sheet will set the tone for the rest of their offseason. The team restructured four contracts in 2023. As a result, Khalil Mack ($38.52 million) and Joey Bosa ($36.61 million) have the two highest 2024 cap hits among NFL edge rushers, and Keenan Allen ($34.72 million) and Mike Williams ($32.46 million) have the two highest cap hits among NFL receivers, according to Over the Cap.

How do the Chargers deal with these four veteran contracts? Factoring in the space needed to pay draft picks and reach the 51-player roster minimum, the Chargers are $31.7 million over the cap. To be compliant, they must clear at least that much by the time the new league year begins March 13. The rather obvious first step is cutting Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in Week 3 this past season. That move would save the Chargers $20 million in space and would put them within striking distance of compliance. The next logical move is signing Allen to an extension.

I think Allen, who turns 32 in April, played well enough last season to show that he has multiple productive seasons left. Allen said in January that he wants to retire as a Charger: “I don’t want to go nowhere else.” There should be incentive on both sides to get an extension done. Allen has $11.62 million in prorated signing bonus remaining on his current deal for 2024. The Chargers will have to wear that on the cap even if they get an extension done. Beyond that, though, they have plenty of flexibility as far as lowering Allen’s cap hit for 2024 on a new deal. His $18.1 million base salary, for instance, is not guaranteed, and that gives them room to maneuver with a potential new deal. The Chargers could realistically get cap-compliant with these two moves: cutting Williams and extending Allen.

There seems to be incentive on both sides for the Chargers to extend Keenan Allen. (Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

The Chargers must then decide what they want to do with the two edge rushers. I think there should be a trade market for both players. Bosa, who does not turn 29 until July, will probably be more attractive because of his age. Mack turned 33 in February. How aggressive are the Chargers in the trade market with Bosa and Mack? That is an unanswered question. I was told by one league source the Chargers had yet to start gauging trade interest on Mack and Bosa. But that does not mean it won’t happen. A Bosa trade before June 1 would save the Chargers $14.39 million, according to Over the Cap. After June 1, they would save $22 million. A trading team would be taking on the final two years of Bosa’s contract, which pays him a base salary of $15 million in 2024 and $17 million in 2025. Mack only has one year remaining on his deal, so the cap savings are the same for pre- and post-June 1: $23.25 million. A post-June 1 designation on a cut or trade allows a team to spread dead money over multiple seasons.



I think a logical result is the Chargers keeping one of the two edge rushers and trading the other. But I do not have a good sense right now of who is likelier to be traded.

6. One landing spot for Mack that could make a lot of sense is Detroit. The Lions have $53.2 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. The caveat is that the Lions have a few extensions they might need to handle this offseason. Quarterback Jared Goff is in the final year of his deal. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is in the final year of his deal. And right tackle Penei Sewell is extension-eligible this offseason. Those could be limiting factors in a potential Mack deal. At the same time, the Lions could either extend Mack or add void years to make the 2024 cap hit more palatable. And he feels like a good fit for the roster. Mack is still an elite player, and I think pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson is intriguing. Mack wants a shot at a Super Bowl, and the Lions would provide that. The Lions have the 163rd pick in the fifth round. They also have the 92nd pick in the third round. They do not have a fourth-round pick. Would the Lions offer either the fifth or the late third for Mack? I think the Chargers would have to strongly consider that type of offer.

7. And that brings us to the draft. I think the Chargers are going to be active in trying to trade down from No. 5 in the first round. But it takes two teams to make a deal. So it is worthwhile to consider potential partners. The best-case scenario for the Chargers is a team wanting to trade up to five for a quarterback. At the same time, it is hard to see one of the top three QBs — USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels — falling out of the top three picks. A team trading up to five would more than likely be making that move for a different quarterback, perhaps Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

I see four potential partners who might trade up in this scenario: the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. There are potential veterans options, though. For example, the Falcons could trade for the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields, or the Minnesota Vikings could re-sign Kirk Cousins. If those teams go with veteran options or they don’t like any of the quarterbacks enough outside of the top three, that shrinks the pool for the Chargers as far as QB-needy teams willing to trade up. In that case, they could instead look for a trading partner trying to move up for one of the receivers, Washington’s Rome Odense or LSU’s Malik Nabers. Or, of course, they could just make the pick.

As Hortiz said at his introductory news conference: “There’s times where that phone doesn’t ring, and you better be ready to pick.”

GO DEEPER

Lessons from Jim Harbaugh's Chargers playing days: 'He's ready for the fight'

8. If the Chargers can find a trade-down partner, I am curious to see what they ask in return. Do they prioritize 2024 capital? The Falcons have pick 43 in the second round and also two third-rounders, 74 and 79. The Vikings have pick 42 in the second round. Or do they prioritize future capital and push for a 2025 first? If the trade-down comes to fruition, the return — Day 2 picks in 2024 vs. first-round picks in 2025 — will tell us a lot about the Harbaugh-Hortiz timeline.

9. One coaching-staff addition I have not touched on yet is wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who spent the past two seasons as the Seattle Seahawks’ passing game coordinator and receivers coach. In Seattle, Lal was a key part of developing receiver DK Metcalf, an off-the-charts athlete and tester who needed to add some polish to his game. Sound familiar? How about 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston? Two different players, for sure. But there are some parallels in the testing numbers as far as height, arm length, vertical jump, broad jump, etc. Johnston had a rough rookie year. But he still has traits to work with. And the Chargers hope Lal might be able to apply some of his experience with Metcalf to Johnston’s development.

Great stuff, Knob! Ooops, it was a long post, next time will just give a thumbs up. lol

[Bolt4Knob]

Great stuff, Knob! Ooops, it was a long post, next time will just give a thumbs up. lol

Yep - Popper is good at his job. Harbaugh wears the same thing every day like Pete Carroll.

Harbaugh is running the show . I also liked the comment about Ben Herbert - a shower doesn't rinse off a workout easily or something like that. Chris Rumph and Scott Matlock - get ready

After reading that - I think of the 4 - KA will be the only one back. I know I suggested Mack to Detroit -- but in the last three days, I have seen that referenced multiple times by others. Maybe just connecting the dots or maybe where there is a puff of smoke, there is rumors. Granted, it may not happen but I think it makes sense why Detroit would want him.

As for Bosa - on the podcast with Money Smith and Hayre - they were talking to Jeremy Fowler and if you go back 4 years, Bosa has been injured and because of that, inconsistent results. And MW - -the injury thing plus its so easy to get a bunch of cap space.

[Velo]

7. And that brings us to the draft. I think the Chargers are going to be active in trying to trade down from No. 5 in the first round. But it takes two teams to make a deal. So it is worthwhile to consider potential partners. The best-case scenario for the Chargers is a team wanting to trade up to five for a quarterback. At the same time, it is hard to see one of the top three QBs — USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels — falling out of the top three picks. A team trading up to five would more than likely be making that move for a different quarterback, perhaps Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

I see four potential partners who might trade up in this scenario: the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. There are potential veterans options, though. For example, the Falcons could trade for the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields, or the Minnesota Vikings could re-sign Kirk Cousins. If those teams go with veteran options or they don’t like any of the quarterbacks enough outside of the top three, that shrinks the pool for the Chargers as far as QB-needy teams willing to trade up. In that case, they could instead look for a trading partner trying to move up for one of the receivers, Washington’s Rome Odense or LSU’s Malik Nabers. Or, of course, they could just make the pick.

As Hortiz said at his introductory news conference: “There’s times where that phone doesn’t ring, and you better be ready to pick.”

GO DEEPER

Lessons from Jim Harbaugh's Chargers playing days: 'He's ready for the fight'

8. If the Chargers can find a trade-down partner, I am curious to see what they ask in return. Do they prioritize 2024 capital? The Falcons have pick 43 in the second round and also two third-rounders, 74 and 79. The Vikings have pick 42 in the second round. Or do they prioritize future capital and push for a 2025 first? If the trade-down comes to fruition, the return — Day 2 picks in 2024 vs. first-round picks in 2025 — will tell us a lot about the Harbaugh-Hortiz timeline.

This is like Popper has been reading my mind, or I've been reading his, because this is how I view this draft for the Chargers, with the same questions, down to will they prioritize 2024 capital? I believe they should. With a decent draft in 2024 the Chargers are a legit contender. This is not a 2-3 year rebuild project. The Chargers have the QB, LT, and some other major pieces in place to contend now, not after 2-3 more drafts.

[Bolt4Knob]

This is like Popper has been reading my mind, or I've been reading his, because this is how I view this draft for the Chargers, with the same questions, down to will they prioritize 2024 capital? I believe they should. With a decent draft in 2024 the Chargers are a legit contender. This is not a 2-3 year rebuild project. The Chargers have the QB, LT, and some other major pieces in place to contend now, not after 2-3 more drafts.

One other note about future draft picks - there is an uncertainty where that pick will be. Now, I think the Cardinals made a solid trade with Houston. But many thought Houstons' first would be a top 5 pick and its in the mid 20's. Sitll a First Rounder

So with the current 2024 pick - you know the exact pick and not projecting out. I still think its the Lions timeline - a two draft process. Lions went from 3 to 9 to 12/NFC Title game. I just see way too many holes to fill in one draft. And the Chargers cannot have a decent draft in 2024. It needs to be like the Lions in 2023 or the Saints in 2017 if you think they can contend. They do have the QB, LT and some others but they are also missing a lot.

[dmac_bolt]

The latest from Popper. Good stuff. Harbaugh is basically Pete Carroll, Belichick and Andy Reid - the run the organization.
The Jim Harbaugh experience and what we heard about the Chargers at the NFL combine


By Daniel Popper
3h ago

8

---

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Harbaugh walked into the hotel meeting room, backpack draped over one shoulder. His son Jack — Little Jack, as he is called, to differentiate from Harbaugh’s father Jack, who was also in town — trailed behind him. Harbaugh wore a blue and yellow checkered shirt tucked into dark pants, an outfit that has become a uniform of sorts for his formal public appearances during this first month as Los Angeles Chargers head coach.

We shook hands and said hello. Harbaugh introduced Little Jack. We all sat down. Within a minute, Harbaugh was shaking his head with a smile and uttering these words over and over: “Best damn job I’ve ever had.”

With that, the NFL combine was in full swing. It was the first of many Chargers conversations I had around Indy. The topics varied. The draft. The coaching staff. The cap situation. The roster.


My parting thoughts from an eventful week:

1. The biggest Chargers takeaway from combine week: The Jim Harbaugh Experience is in full effect. He is very clearly influencing all facets of the organization, and that is exactly what the Chargers expected when they invested in him as their head coach. The best way to describe the feeling right now is optimistic anticipation. This is new territory for the franchise. The Chargers are fascinating right now, because of what could be, because of the possibilities. Harbaugh has the keys, and the question now is this: Where will he take them?

Jim Harbaugh has already brought optimism and enthusiasm to the Chargers. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

2. Harbaugh used the term “low-hanging fruit” several times when I sat down with him. He used it in reference to his initial conversations with players. He also used it in reference to the organization as a whole. His cultural philosophy revolves around a pretty simple premise: How do the Chargers get better at football? And at these early stages, he is focusing on the immediate, apparent corrections. Remember, on the day before his introductory news conference on Feb. 1, Harbaugh was in Home Depot at 6 a.m. buying a Shop-Vac. He took it to the Chargers’ Orange County facility and vacuumed out the weight room. Little things. Low-hanging fruit. Over time, those add up to what we all know as culture.


3. The man in charge of that weight room now is executive director of player performance Ben Herbert, who Harbaugh brought with him from Michigan. I asked Harbaugh why Herbert was such a priority for him when he was building his staff. I also asked about the qualities that make Herbert great at his specific role. Harbaugh’s answer weaved through stabilizer muscles and ankle joints and Ferraris. Ultimately, he ended by describing a delicate balance: Herbert blends the new-school science of sports performance with old-school, tried-and-true hard work. A Herbert workout, Harbaugh said, “doesn’t rinse off in the shower.” He flexed after saying that. With a huge grin on his face.




4. As general manager Joe Hortiz said Tuesday, the Chargers’ process right now is “a cross between installing the offense, installing the defense while evaluating the players.” Harbaugh is heavily involved in all the offensive meetings, which were continuing with the staff in Indianapolis, and he mentioned a pass protection meeting that was particularly illuminating and productive. Greg Roman is the offensive coordinator and will be calling the plays. But the offensive vision will be filtered through Harbaugh. That much is clear. And while the stated goal is to develop a reliable run game, I got the sense from multiple conversations that the Chargers will be utilizing and leaning into what is their greatest organizational asset: Justin Herbert’s right arm. This should not be a surprise, but it needs to be stated.


Chargers' salary cap, changes at running back and more from GM Joe Hortiz

5. Many of my conversations centered around the Chargers’ cap situation, and for good reason. How the Chargers approach their cap sheet will set the tone for the rest of their offseason. The team restructured four contracts in 2023. As a result, Khalil Mack ($38.52 million) and Joey Bosa ($36.61 million) have the two highest 2024 cap hits among NFL edge rushers, and Keenan Allen ($34.72 million) and Mike Williams ($32.46 million) have the two highest cap hits among NFL receivers, according to Over the Cap.

How do the Chargers deal with these four veteran contracts? Factoring in the space needed to pay draft picks and reach the 51-player roster minimum, the Chargers are $31.7 million over the cap. To be compliant, they must clear at least that much by the time the new league year begins March 13. The rather obvious first step is cutting Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in Week 3 this past season. That move would save the Chargers $20 million in space and would put them within striking distance of compliance. The next logical move is signing Allen to an extension.

I think Allen, who turns 32 in April, played well enough last season to show that he has multiple productive seasons left. Allen said in January that he wants to retire as a Charger: “I don’t want to go nowhere else.” There should be incentive on both sides to get an extension done. Allen has $11.62 million in prorated signing bonus remaining on his current deal for 2024. The Chargers will have to wear that on the cap even if they get an extension done. Beyond that, though, they have plenty of flexibility as far as lowering Allen’s cap hit for 2024 on a new deal. His $18.1 million base salary, for instance, is not guaranteed, and that gives them room to maneuver with a potential new deal. The Chargers could realistically get cap-compliant with these two moves: cutting Williams and extending Allen.

There seems to be incentive on both sides for the Chargers to extend Keenan Allen. (Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

The Chargers must then decide what they want to do with the two edge rushers. I think there should be a trade market for both players. Bosa, who does not turn 29 until July, will probably be more attractive because of his age. Mack turned 33 in February. How aggressive are the Chargers in the trade market with Bosa and Mack? That is an unanswered question. I was told by one league source the Chargers had yet to start gauging trade interest on Mack and Bosa. But that does not mean it won’t happen. A Bosa trade before June 1 would save the Chargers $14.39 million, according to Over the Cap. After June 1, they would save $22 million. A trading team would be taking on the final two years of Bosa’s contract, which pays him a base salary of $15 million in 2024 and $17 million in 2025. Mack only has one year remaining on his deal, so the cap savings are the same for pre- and post-June 1: $23.25 million. A post-June 1 designation on a cut or trade allows a team to spread dead money over multiple seasons.



I think a logical result is the Chargers keeping one of the two edge rushers and trading the other. But I do not have a good sense right now of who is likelier to be traded.

6. One landing spot for Mack that could make a lot of sense is Detroit. The Lions have $53.2 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. The caveat is that the Lions have a few extensions they might need to handle this offseason. Quarterback Jared Goff is in the final year of his deal. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is in the final year of his deal. And right tackle Penei Sewell is extension-eligible this offseason. Those could be limiting factors in a potential Mack deal. At the same time, the Lions could either extend Mack or add void years to make the 2024 cap hit more palatable. And he feels like a good fit for the roster. Mack is still an elite player, and I think pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson is intriguing. Mack wants a shot at a Super Bowl, and the Lions would provide that. The Lions have the 163rd pick in the fifth round. They also have the 92nd pick in the third round. They do not have a fourth-round pick. Would the Lions offer either the fifth or the late third for Mack? I think the Chargers would have to strongly consider that type of offer.

7. And that brings us to the draft. I think the Chargers are going to be active in trying to trade down from No. 5 in the first round. But it takes two teams to make a deal. So it is worthwhile to consider potential partners. The best-case scenario for the Chargers is a team wanting to trade up to five for a quarterback. At the same time, it is hard to see one of the top three QBs — USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels — falling out of the top three picks. A team trading up to five would more than likely be making that move for a different quarterback, perhaps Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

I see four potential partners who might trade up in this scenario: the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12 and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. There are potential veterans options, though. For example, the Falcons could trade for the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields, or the Minnesota Vikings could re-sign Kirk Cousins. If those teams go with veteran options or they don’t like any of the quarterbacks enough outside of the top three, that shrinks the pool for the Chargers as far as QB-needy teams willing to trade up. In that case, they could instead look for a trading partner trying to move up for one of the receivers, Washington’s Rome Odense or LSU’s Malik Nabers. Or, of course, they could just make the pick.

As Hortiz said at his introductory news conference: “There’s times where that phone doesn’t ring, and you better be ready to pick.”

GO DEEPER

Lessons from Jim Harbaugh's Chargers playing days: 'He's ready for the fight'

8. If the Chargers can find a trade-down partner, I am curious to see what they ask in return. Do they prioritize 2024 capital? The Falcons have pick 43 in the second round and also two third-rounders, 74 and 79. The Vikings have pick 42 in the second round. Or do they prioritize future capital and push for a 2025 first? If the trade-down comes to fruition, the return — Day 2 picks in 2024 vs. first-round picks in 2025 — will tell us a lot about the Harbaugh-Hortiz timeline.

9. One coaching-staff addition I have not touched on yet is wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who spent the past two seasons as the Seattle Seahawks’ passing game coordinator and receivers coach. In Seattle, Lal was a key part of developing receiver DK Metcalf, an off-the-charts athlete and tester who needed to add some polish to his game. Sound familiar? How about 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston? Two different players, for sure. But there are some parallels in the testing numbers as far as height, arm length, vertical jump, broad jump, etc. Johnston had a rough rookie year. But he still has traits to work with. And the Chargers hope Lal might be able to apply some of his experience with Metcalf to Johnston’s development.

Hmm - a lot of enthusiastic response to his lengthy dissertation on what he doesn’t know.

1. Not sure on Joey, Mack - either, neither, when or how, beats him?
2. Not sure on Allen but he has an idea? Thinks MW may be cut - like everyone on the planet - but can’t confirm. Ok.
3. Not sure on trade down, stay pat, what the Chargers draft focus or strategy is?
4. Offense may be more Herbert oriented than the run-first run-always Roman meme that always overstated and always failed to ack the QBs he had to work with. When you’re given running QBs that are not great passers, you’re gonna run more. Duh (and good! If true). He doesn’t know what the offense will look like is his takeaway, thanks!

The only reporting facts he delivered are Harbaugh is eternally enthusiastic and optimistic (thanks, already knew that), he immersed in all details everywhere (good! And we expected that) and Ben is gonna make the team tougher or guys are gonna die in the gym trying (good! And we expected that already too).

Keep working hard, Pop, you’ll learn some actual facts somewhere someday … we’ve already got plenty of interwebby wild guessing and speculation going on, though we appreciate you need to fill print-inches to get paid so its all cool.

[dmac_bolt]

This is like Popper has been reading my mind, or I've been reading his, because this is how I view this draft for the Chargers, with the same questions, down to will they prioritize 2024 capital? I believe they should. With a decent draft in 2024 the Chargers are a legit contender. This is not a 2-3 year rebuild project. The Chargers have the QB, LT, and some other major pieces in place to contend now, not after 2-3 more drafts.

Bro, he’s stealing your published material - without attribution. You deserve the byline. (You can just reference me as a source for my parts you stole from me, i don’t need a co-byline )