Chargers GM Joe Hortiz - Discussion

[jamrock]

How about we win a playoff game, or even be competitive in one, before we get cocky?

We play in one of the 2 hardest divisions in the NFL. I am not foolish enough to write off Reid, Mahomes and the Chiefs, Denver are rightfully the division favorite, and the Raiders will be much, much improved from last year.

Much to be proven by the Chargers

we play the NFCW which was the best division in football last season. You never know what a new season will bring but I don't expect much drop off from the Seahawks and Rams and the 49ers had the same type of injury bad luck we did in 2025

[AFboltfan]

you’re not making much sense on this.

Harbaugh and Devlin both had a say... Not just Gro... Gro and Devlin are gone, the only person left for the fickle Powder Blues to blame is Harbaugh.

Perhaps James should have got more play time over Bozeman... I assume they wanted consistency and Bozeman was healthy.

[dmac_bolt]

Harbaugh and Devlin both had a say... Not just Gro... Gro and Devlin are gone, the only person left for the fickle Powder Blues to blame is Harbaugh.

Perhaps James should have got more play time over Bozeman... I assume they wanted consistency and Bozeman was healthy.

James has been denied chances to play over Bozeman since Gro and Devlin left? Again, you're not making sense.

My take on Jim is he is deferential to his top OC and DC. I think he lets them decide who on their O or D rosters play just like he lets them call plays. And OL coaches don't tell the OC who is going to play or not play - Devlin having a say doesnt mean he had a decision.

I 100% believe Gro decided who played on OL. I think that is why he was always so defensive about it. But I don't know - none of us do - so you're free to believe whatever you want. But saying PB has to blame Jim because Gro isn't here today makes no sense.

[RTPbolt]

Id like to hope it was Gro that decided on the OL. But could be the OL coaches too. Boze was a fav of Harb though so unless James was just clearly better in practice i would be surprised at a switch to James. Had boze bern injured that was really our best shot at seeing James. Water under the bridge…they are ALL gone! Cant get worse!

im in the wait till we get thru the draft and final cuts to see our final roster. We have plenty of cash to attract vets that get cut and IMO a clear starting guard or two spot to compete for. I think we get 1 more solid vet OL and a draft pick maybe even 2 if a prospect drops into later rounds.

[AFboltfan]

James has been denied chances to play over Bozeman since Gro and Devlin left? Again, you're not making sense.

My take on Jim is he is deferential to his top OC and DC. I think he lets them decide who on their O or D rosters play just like he lets them call plays. And OL coaches don't tell the OC who is going to play or not play - Devlin having a say doesnt mean he had a decision.

I 100% believe Gro decided who played on OL. I think that is why he was always so defensive about it. But I don't know - none of us do - so you're free to believe whatever you want. But saying PB has to blame Jim because Gro isn't here today makes no sense.

I'm sorry you can't comprehend English... Nowhere did I suggest James was denied play time since Gro and Devlin left... What???

Your take on Jim is fair... I could see that...

It will make sense when the Fire Harbaugh threads pop up if we miss the playoffs or lose in the wildcard round/divisional rounds.

Its too early to blame McDaniel but I suppose we'll see those threads too.

[AFboltfan]

Id like to hope it was Gro that decided on the OL. But could be the OL coaches too. Boze was a fav of Harb though so unless James was just clearly better in practice i would be surprised at a switch to James. Had boze bern injured that was really our best shot at seeing James. Water under the bridge…they are ALL gone! Cant get worse!

im in the wait till we get thru the draft and final cuts to see our final roster. We have plenty of cash to attract vets that get cut and IMO a clear starting guard or two spot to compete for. I think we get 1 more solid vet OL and a draft pick maybe even 2 if a prospect drops into later rounds.

This guy gets it... Great take!

[dmac_bolt]

I'm sorry you can't comprehend English... Nowhere did I suggest James was denied play time since Gro and Devlin left... What???

Your take on Jim is fair... I could see that...

It will make sense when the Fire Harbaugh threads pop up if we miss the playoffs or lose in the wildcard round/divisional rounds.

It’s too early to blame McDaniel but I suppose we'll see those threads too.

Ok maybe I miss understood you. Sure.

[richpjr]

Some big bills coming due for a few teams

[Boltjolt]

Some big bills coming due for a few teams

Wow,.. How so much for Denver?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Peyton was a part of NO bad cap situations of for years

[richpjr]

Wow,.. How so much for Denver?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Peyton was a part of NO bad cap situations of for years

I asked Google:

The Denver Broncos have significant salary cap hits scheduled for 2029 and 2030 because they have aggressively adopted a "kick the can down the road" strategy commonly used by teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints. By adding void years to veteran contracts, they are artificially spreading out current costs to maximize their spending power during quarterback Bo Nix’s rookie contract window.
Why the Hits Fall in 2029 and 2030

• Proration Limits: NFL rules allow signing bonuses to be spread over a maximum of five years. For major extensions or restructures signed or modified in 2024–2026, the fifth year of that proration often lands exactly in 2029 or 2030.
• The "Bo Nix Window": The team is prioritizing short-term flexibility to build a competitive roster while their starting quarterback is on a cheap rookie deal. They are gambling that the salary cap will rise significantly by 2029 due to new media rights deals, making these future "dead money" hits a smaller percentage of the total cap.
• Sean Payton's Influence: Under Sean Payton, the Broncos have transitioned to the complex cap management style he used in New Orleans, which relies heavily on using void years to create "phantom" space.

Key Player Contracts Contributing to the Hits
According to Spotrac and recent reports, the following players have void years or spikes landing in those years:

• Jaylen Waddle: A recent restructure includes void years in 2029 and 2030 to spread an option bonus, deferring over $3 million annually to those years.
• Quinn Meinerz
  : His 2024 extension and subsequent restructures pushed cap hits into a 2029 void year to save immediate space.
• Jonathon Cooper
  : A 2026 restructure converted salary to a signing bonus, with a 2029 void year added to maximize the spread.
• Courtland Sutton
  : His 2024 restructure added three void years, pushing dead money hits into the late 2020s.
• Talanoa Hufanga
  : Has a significant cap charge of nearly $4.5M in 2029 designated as a void year.
  Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan +6

The Strategy's Risk
If these players are not on the roster by 2029, all that prorated money accelerates and hits the cap at once as "dead money". The Broncos currently have roughly 12 players with void years reaching into 2030, meaning they will eventually face a massive bill unless they continue to extend those players or the league cap jumps as projected.