Chargers GM Joe Hortiz - Discussion

[Bolt4Knob]

I agree with all that but the starting OGs as it stands today are a major question mark.

Luckily the season doesn’t start today, and there is ample time to address this. If we can hit on one rookie OG who can contribute right away, we should be in pretty good shape. Very good shape, even.

We also need some luck on our side, re: health.

Very true about a starting OG. And if Hortiz picks Chase Bisontis, even at 22, and he is nails, nobody will give a crap if he is over-drafted. Kiper would say "well, did you get value, could you have traded down for him?" blah blah blah

That said, if Hortiz nails the pick -- won't care if he is overdrafted, underdrafted or drafted right on the dot

[Riverwalk]

Hortiz is a day late and a dollar short as of this moment. .

We all know we needed 3 starters for the OL and improved backups over last year.

3/5th’s of the OL were injured last year and none of the backups were worth a cup of spit.

Since the team needs reinforcements elsewhere besides the OL, you don’t need to be an NFL GM to realize, bare minimum, ALL the IOL starters should have been secured in FA…then use the draft to improve depth and develop starters.

Chris O’Leary has to be looking at this and thinking the majority of top picks are going to spent on offense and he’s getting the shaft.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Very true about a starting OG. And if Hortiz picks Chase Bisontis, even at 22, and he is nails, nobody will give a crap if he is over-drafted. Kiper would say "well, did you get value, could you have traded down for him?" blah blah blah

That said, if Hortiz nails the pick -- won't care if he is overdrafted, underdrafted or drafted right on the dot

We need a starting LG obviously. Hopefully the draft takes care of that.

How about good OL depth, no one talks about much. Depth that can play, not like last year. I hope no one on TPB think there will not be injuries to the o line, because there absolutely will be. Like there is every year, on every team.

[Bolt4Knob]

We need a starting LG obviously. Hopefully the draft takes care of that.

How about good OL depth, no one talks about much. Depth that can play, not like last year. I hope no one on TPB think there will not be injuries to the o line, because there absolutely will be. Like there is every year, on every team.

It is why I want him to trade back and trade back

I think he needs to draft two, but really three OL -- but with only 5 current picks, two is probably the max he can select. Get a couple more - even if rounds 3 through 5 -- will take it. He needs to create a pipeline

[CanadianBoltFan]

It is why I want him to trade back and trade back

I think he needs to draft two, but really three OL -- but with only 5 current picks, two is probably the max he can select. Get a couple more - even if rounds 3 through 5 -- will take it. He needs to create a pipeline

It remains hard to understand why Hortiz would leave so many needs on the crucial offensive line , going into a draft with a league low 5 picks.

There is where the root of my disatisfaction and complaining has come from. I am all about building through the draft. If the Chargers had 7, 8,9 picks....sure , go light in free agency and solve your o line woes in the draft.

But you didnt, you had only 5 picks to go with league leading cap space. For me is just seemed like asset management and common sense. Improve your roster's biggest weakness with the assets available to you. In this off season what you had more of was cap space, not draft picks.

[21&500]

5 is all we need.

[DerwinBosa]

Nope, it isnt going to happen. They both will get the 5 years they signed for. If we dont get deep into the playoffs during that time, maybe we can have that conversation but it sure beats not making the playoffs. Telesco was a shit GM. Sure he made some good picks in round 1, Keenan round 3 but he never made another good round 3 pick......well Henley was a 3rd but Staley thought Murray was better lol...who again, was another bad pick by Telesco. Telescos very first pick was Fluker.....that was a tell sign.

Didnt keep any on second contracts, made only 1 trade for Mack in 11 years, never traded down in the draft, only up for players that had no impact and losing picks,..... picked up roadkill during the season who were just stashed on the PS.

Ill take whats going on now to that anytime. I think we can win the division this year. Denver wont get the breaks they got last year and KC is still down imo. Raiders wont be very relevent this year.

But we will see

If we make the playoffs this coming season, Hortiz and Harbaugh will have done so as many times in their first three years with us as Telesco did in 11. Yes, we haven't won a playoff game in the first two years, but it's not like that hasn't happened with successful teams that have ended up winning Super Bowls.

Tom Coughlin didn't make the playoffs his first season with the Giants, they got blown by the Panthers (23-0) in the second year, and lost to the Eagles in the Wild Card Round the third year, after going 8-8 that season. Then they won the Super Bowl in the fourth season, all while several Giants fans (and some players) wanted him to be fired.

Andy Reid missed the playoffs with the Chiefs in his second year with them, and they didn't win a playoff game until his third season. The team's postseason record was 2-5 with Reid before they won the Super Bowl in the 2019 season.

It's clear that Hortiz and Harbaugh are going to build through the draft and will not overspend in free agency. So far Hortiz has been very successful in the draft, nailing picks on Alt, McConkey, Eboigbe, Hart, Still, and Vidal in 2024, and the 2025 class featuring Hampton, Harris, Caldwell,and Gadsden looks very promising, too. I still haven't given up on Kennard or Taylor--just like I didn't on Eboigbe and Vidal after their rookie years. Colson has to step it up this year, his last chance. Looking at Hortiz's picks in two years, I see ten guys who will be solid-to-great contributors on the team for at least three or four years, and maybe five or six players (Alt, McConkey, Caldwell, and maybe Hampton, Eboigbe, and Gadsden) who could realistically make it to second contracts with us. My only holdup with Hampton getting a second contract with us is the position he plays. If Hortiz continues on that pace, we will have one of the most loaded rosters in the NFL soon. Even he gets only three starters in the next couple of drafts, we will be in excellent shape.

I think Hortiz will address guard and edge early in the draft, but he doesn't have to, either, if the right players aren't there in Rounds 1 and 2. Regardless of what he does in the draft, I'm confident that he will add good players, and we will be in a better position heading into next season than we were last year. In spite of some losing it over Cole Strange being the current favorite as the right guard, the Tyler Biadasz addition at center (keep in mind I wasn't thrilled with that acquisiton) will make a HUGE difference in the offensive line improving in 2026. I think Strange is a good signing because McDaniel saw the improvement he made as last season went along and thinks he will continue to progress with us. He will have to win the job over the summer, though.

[Bolt4Knob]

If they lose in the first round of the playoffs and its because of the same issue, THREE years in a row - that would be up for consideration of firing Hortiz. It is just not about losing - it would be losing because of poor Interior Oline play.. Whether he finishes the OL with free agents, draft picks or a combo of - -he needs to nail this

It is a specific reason that I should the judgement of Hortiz should be looked at if he fails again to deliver the OLine for this team. He can't use lack of cap space as an excuse.

[sonorajim]

If they lose in the first round of the playoffs and its because of the same issue, THREE years in a row - that would be up for consideration of firing Hortiz. It is just not about losing - it would be losing because of poor Interior Oline play.. Whether he finishes the OL with free agents, draft picks or a combo of - -he needs to nail this

It is a specific reason that I should the judgement of Hortiz should be looked at if he fails again to deliver the OLine for this team. He can't use lack of cap space as an excuse.

Last year's OL problems:
1. Slater out for season
2. Alt played 4 1/2 games.
3, Bozeman is starting C
4. Becton is a slacker
5. Zion struggled to be average.
So: 1 & 2 should be back. #3 will not. Replaced by a quality, top 10 vet C. We're better already.
4 & 5 are somebody else's problem. Replacements TBD.

[Boltgang74]

I had to.Got me in the zone now.

[Riverwalk]

Maybe MM told Hortiz, he can win a SB with Strange and Penning as Guards.

[Bolt4Knob]

Maybe MM told Hortiz, he can win a SB with Strange and Penning as Guards.

I don't think the Oline is done. I think there will be a draft pick from Rounds 2-4