Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[Boltjolt]

I only preface trading away QJ if they get a WR to replace him. Pierce, Rasheed, Brown etc, etc..

That's the only way I see that happening but we aren't going to trade for AJ Brown. There are reports NE offered a 1st and a 3rd and Philly turned it down.

No way Hortiz is doing that let alone above that.

[wu-dai clan]

That's the only way I see that happening but we aren't going to trade for AJ Brown. There are reports NE offered a 1st and a 3rd and Philly turned it down.

No way Hortiz is doing that let alone above that.

Hortiz loves to kick the tires on an all electric 2026 GMC Hummer, then drive off in his '97 Chevy Silverado.

[CanadianBoltFan]

AJ Brown would be fun for sure, but not at the expense of gutting our draft.

It would take our first and 2nd picks, leaving us with 3 total picks and none until 86. Draft weekend would suck

Good young players on rookie contracts is the key to our system, not highly paid Divas

[Boltnut]

MFers have us in on everyone lol. AJ Brown, Achane. .these guys don't know didly and are just throwing shit against the wall as usual.
We won't have any picks left if we do what they say we are interested in.

Yeah, I don't see Hortiz trading away draft picks for high priced players... he's probably pissed we only have 5 picks as it is.
Spend wisely in free agency... fill some vital positions (Edge, OG)... build depth... and draft what you couldn't get in free agency.

Teams with cap issues will be shedding good players shortly. Take advantage of those teams.

[Riverwalk]

I’m perplexed that folks think we can get something in a trade but don’t think he’s worth keeping on a rookie contract. now if Joe stuns me with a big WR move … the calculations can change. I’ve seen the AJ interest rumors, I’ll believe Joe will do a move like that when I see it.

QJ can have a big role on the 2026 LAC team. As always - there are lots of different equations that can work that don’t have a Q in them

The reason why you trade QJ now or keep him comes down to one simple question, IMO.

Is QJ a player you want to option for a 5th year or sign to a second contract?

He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if they don’t pick up his option at around $16M fully guaranteed.

Plan B if they don’t option him or want him long term is trade him now.

Personally, I don’t think he is worth the option amount for next year or a second contract so I prefer trading him now.

[Jack Burton]

The reason why you trade QJ now or keep him comes down to one simple question, IMO.

Is QJ a player you want to option for a 5th year or sign to a second contract?

He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if they don’t pick up his option at around $16M fully guaranteed.

Plan B if they don’t option him or want him long term is trade him now.

Personally, I don’t think he is worth the option amount for next year or a second contract so I prefer trading him now.

Nailed it.

[Bolt4Knob]

Yeah, I don't see Hortiz trading away draft picks for high priced players... he's probably pissed we only have 5 picks as it is.
Spend wisely in free agency... fill some vital positions (Edge, OG)... build depth... and draft what you couldn't get in free agency.

Teams with cap issues will be shedding good players shortly. Take advantage of those teams.

If Hortiz is truly playing the comp pick game this year -- and that remains to be seen even if just signing Biadasz - this is the philosophy. Hortiz can let a guy like St. Juste leave, say he gets the Donte Jackson type contract, he can sign a released CB or a cheaper one, and St, Juste would get them a comp pick, perhaps

Salyer and Pipkins - same thing.

As for the draft - I still think he needs to trade down unless unique talent is there at 22 (Ioane, Sediq)

More good players to the roster.

[Bolt4Knob]

Nailed it.

Agreed as well. If there is a market for him now -- sell early and not late. Plenty of guys you can sign to be that 4th WR-- Allen, Sky Moore (who can also be in the return game)

[dmac_bolt]

Yeah, I don't see Hortiz trading away draft picks for high priced players... he's probably pissed we only have 5 picks as it is.
Spend wisely in free agency... fill some vital positions (Edge, OG)... build depth... and draft what you couldn't get in free agency.

Teams with cap issues will be shedding good players shortly. Take advantage of those teams.

I don’t see him trading for AJ in any universe. But he probably isn’t, since he’s the one that traded away #5 and #7 (+’27 #7) with nothing on the 2026 roster to show for it. I have not heard a note of regret in any comment he’s ever said on any move he’s ever made. He’ll still argue about Bozeman if you ask. He does not lack confidence.

[Boltnut]

If Hortiz is truly playing the comp pick game this year -- and that remains to be seen even if just signing Biadasz - this is the philosophy. Hortiz can let a guy like St. Juste leave, say he gets the Donte Jackson type contract, he can sign a released CB or a cheaper one, and St, Juste would get them a comp pick, perhaps

Salyer and Pipkins - same thing.

As for the draft - I still think he needs to trade down unless unique talent is there at 22 (Ioane, Sediq)

More good players to the roster.

Yeah, I think he would like to return to the comp-pick model they employed at Baltimore.
1 or 2 extra picks each draft could really help us fill out a deep roster... and always allow us to stay cap-healthy.

We'll have to see what the free agent market brings for guys like Oweh, Mack, Salyer, Pipkins, Zion, Harris, St Juste...

[dmac_bolt]

The reason why you trade QJ now or keep him comes down to one simple question, IMO.

Is QJ a player you want to option for a 5th year or sign to a second contract?

He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if they don’t pick up his option at around $16M fully guaranteed.

Plan B if they don’t option him or want him long term is trade him now.

Personally, I don’t think he is worth the option amount for next year or a second contract so I prefer trading him now.

I get the theory. I think the question is will whatever you trade him for help you more in 2026 than he will. I expect Q is here and he has his best year with MM designing an offense that can utilize his talents more.

in 2027 Joe lets him walk for his comp game and watches some over-pay him elsewhere.

But who knows - we’ll see.

[dmac_bolt]

Yeah, I think he would like to return to the comp-pick model they employed at Baltimore.
1 or 2 extra picks each draft could really help us fill out a deep roster... and always allow us to stay cap-healthy.

We'll have to see what the free agent market brings for guys like Oweh, Mack, Salyer, Pipkins, Zion, Harris, St Juste...

Other than Oweh, Zion, maybe Mack - who most seem to want to re-sign, I don’t see the LAC FAs leaving that are going to win the 2026 comp game when he has $90M to spend. I wouldn’t alter his 2026 player acquisition strategy in the hope of maybe getting a R6 or R7 pick in 2027. There are no R3 FAs leaving imo. We’ll see