Official 2025 Chargers Discussion | 2025 Roster Build | Free Agency and Draft

[Formula 21]

If they have to go to Buffalo, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburg during playoff time, they may need to keep the sports car in the garage and breakout the Off-Road AWD to get where they want to go.

And I’m good with those big lugged tires on the OL too.

[Chargers8491]

I'd rather the Bolts draft/sign a real C with a solid track record...getting tired of these transition projects...no problem with cross training in case of emergency, though...remember, the Zion at C talk could be a smokescreen to mask our intent to draft C early...liar's month...

I get the liar's month, and we use it a lot this time of year, but Hortiz/Harbaugh have been up to this point very upfront about what they are doing. Last year they told us they were taking a LT in the draft if we were paying attention. Unfortunately, most of us were not, including me.

[Jack Burton]

I think he is going to bring in some talent. You bring up the aging EDGE players -- I think Mack will be back (but who knows, all it takes is one team but if not that is $18m or so of cap space to spend on Edge or DLine) and I think he drafts EDGE.

I can see IOL for sure in free agency and possibly WR
I don't think he will dumpster dive - but he will be smart and identify the RIGHT players and pay them. This won't be paying a player to pay a player in free agency and hope they work out.
Chargers have cap space and picks to make a move

I think depth signings can come later in free agency or post draft
But free agency - he is going to bring in a couple bona fide, big money players as I wrote earlier. I think IOL and WR - but it might DT and a LB like Bolton

I also want to add to my last thoughts that next year the chargers are going to have even more money in FA.
Guys, our Super Bowl window has opened. Harbaugh and his staff are here. The defense is already really good and thats with the issues it currently has, which are minor. Fix the offense in one draft, whether you get another 1st round pick or not, and you are vying for the division legitimately. But this division isn’t getting any easier. So I expect them to go big sooner than later. I expect an exponentially growing offseason and draft and a lot of excitement going into Week 1.

[Topcat]

I get the liar's month, and we use it a lot this time of year, but Hortiz/Harbaugh have been up to this point very upfront about what they are doing. Last year they told us they were taking a LT in the draft if we were paying attention. Unfortunately, most of us were not, including me.

Sometimes telling the truth on your draft plans can work like reverse psychology...so other GM's might think, "okay, Hortiz said they're going for a LT...so they MUST be targeting some other position..."

[Fouts2herbert]

That's been Trader Joe's M.O. going back to the Ravens...mid-tier signings, a lot of one-year "prove it" deals, and stockpile comp picks...

Just 12 months ago Hortiz inherited one of the worse rosters in the NFL which was horribly over the cap and with a bunch of aging star players taking up ridiculous amounts of cap space...and Telesco was known to all of us for being terrible at drafting good depth in day three of the draft, the team had no plan, no vision, and no ascending players waiting in the winds to become starters...there was just a bunch of shit players on the team for depth, the man is cleansing this team thru the draft and thru mid to low tier free agent acquisitions...we've already seen how much the team was improved from not just starters but also from a depth perspective, but he's not a miracle worker and to make matter worse this 2025 class of free agents is absolutely terrible, there just isn't much out there, Higgins and Smith were scheduled to be the big names in FA but now they're going to get tagged by their current teams...rumor has that even Sam Darnold might get tagged...that basically leaves Mack as perhaps the best free agent that's truly available this offseason...

I'm looking forward to another Hortiz draft and this one with 11 total picks thanks to Hortiz' careful maneuvering to get us those compensatory picks, we know this guy can find players in day three, that's not something that Charger fans are accustomed to...the roster is about to get a much needed infusion of youth and talent and guys that most of us aren't even talking about might be playing prominent roles for the Chargers next season...

Joe will build a powerful team around Herbert, he just needs time...

[Bolt4Knob]

I also want to add to my last thoughts that next year the chargers are going to have even more money in FA.
Guys, our Super Bowl window has opened. Harbaugh and his staff are here. The defense is already really good and thats with the issues it currently has, which are minor. Fix the offense in one draft, whether you get another 1st round pick or not, and you are vying for the division legitimately. But this division isn’t getting any easier. So I expect them to go big sooner than later. I expect an exponentially growing offseason and draft and a lot of excitement going into Week 1.

Reality check on the cap for 2026 -- if they spend it this year on players with multiple year deals - they won't have a lot left next year. Hence, why I think trading future picks is dependent on free agency this year.

Now if they sign a bunch of players to one year contracts like Mack, Kelly and Zeitler - they could have a sizable amount of cap space next year
But if they extend Slater, sign a Becton and sign a younger Edge or DT and a few other positions, like Ford and Molden - the money will decrease for the future. I mean, Moldens cap number alone doubles from just under $4 to $8m next year
My hope - is they get a couple players like Becton and Osa O, extend Slater, get Ford signed that eats into that cap space

Plus two draft classes alone will be worth $25m - plus other costs

[Formula 21]

Spotrac projects Keenan Allen’s market value at just over $11 million annually across a new two-year contract. Allen is likely to want more, even though he produced only a moderately successful campaign in 2024, putting up 70 catches for 744 yards and a team-high 7 TDs. He suffered a heel injury at the beginning of the season, and Allen should theoretically be able to put up better numbers in 2025 assuming relative health and a leap from Williams in his first season under Johnson.

[Jack Burton]

Reality check on the cap for 2026 -- if they spend it this year on players with multiple year deals - they won't have a lot left next year. Hence, why I think trading future picks is dependent on free agency this year.

Now if they sign a bunch of players to one year contracts like Mack, Kelly and Zeitler - they could have a sizable amount of cap space next year
But if they extend Slater, sign a Becton and sign a younger Edge or DT and a few other positions, like Ford and Molden - the money will decrease for the future. I mean, Moldens cap number alone doubles from just under $4 to $8m next year
My hope - is they get a couple players like Becton and Osa O, extend Slater, get Ford signed that eats into that cap space

Plus two draft classes alone will be worth $25m - plus other costs

It’s still a ridiculous amount. And yes, I get that if they spend it eats into next year. But they still have a grip of coin next year. So do the raiders. Look at the Raiders next 2! Years… now there’s a team that historically will blow that all on crap.
My point is they’ve got the money and the roster and the staff to go for it. And there “chief” rival and current dynasty is on the mat, knocked out and the book is out on them……I think they realize this.

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space

[Jack Burton]

Spotrac projects Keenan Allen’s market value at just over $11 million annually across a new two-year contract. Allen is likely to want more, even though he produced only a moderately successful campaign in 2024, putting up 70 catches for 744 yards and a team-high 7 TDs. He suffered a heel injury at the beginning of the season, and Allen should theoretically be able to put up better numbers in 2025 assuming relative health and a leap from Williams in his first season under Johnson.

No thanks. Enjoy Nashville

[Bolt4Knob]

No thanks. Enjoy Nashville

I looked up Mike Williams on Spotrac just under $5m. For the Chargers -- with Ladd on the roster - Mike Williams makes more sense at $5m over Allen at $11m. I think he would play the X which is what the Chargers need
That said, still hoping for one of those players from the combine today in R2 or R3

Aliymanor
Jayden Higgins
Dont'e Thornton

Get one of those players for WR and maybe sign Mike Williams, one year contract - give the rookie some time to transition. And if he transitions like Ladd - oh well, Mike is a solid WR4

I mean, I think Adams is a great fit but I would rather that money go to a big time DT/DE to pair with Ford. Granted, need to see what Eboigbe does

[Bolt4Knob]

It’s still a ridiculous amount. And yes, I get that if they spend it eats into next year. But they still have a grip of coin next year. So do the raiders. Look at the Raiders next 2! Years… now there’s a team that historically will blow that all on crap.
My point is they’ve got the money and the roster and the staff to go for it. And there “chief” rival and current dynasty is on the mat, knocked out and the book is out on them……I think they realize this.



https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space

I do agree with this. The Chiefs were 11-0 in one score games. That probably doesn't happen again. Law of averages and all that. Hell, the three AFCW home games ended with: blocked FG, doink FG and the false start fumbled snap... odds of those happening again, pretty slim. So they probably are due for a reset. Time for the Chargers to take advantage. And I still hope the free agency is a longer term windwo - players for 3-4 years so sorry Davante, you intrigue me but Osa O or Nick Bolton or the CB Reid might interest me even more (if the scheme fit is there and all that)

[Bolt4Knob]

It’s still a ridiculous amount. And yes, I get that if they spend it eats into next year. But they still have a grip of coin next year. So do the raiders. Look at the Raiders next 2! Years… now there’s a team that historically will blow that all on crap.
My point is they’ve got the money and the roster and the staff to go for it. And there “chief” rival and current dynasty is on the mat, knocked out and the book is out on them……I think they realize this.



https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space

Jack -- the dream is alive!! The Niners just traded Deebo to the Commanders for a 5th round pick. If I am using OTC correctly, they lost $16m of cap space.

So maybe my idea of Bosa to the Niners - paying for a couple draft picks their comp pick third and this pick - just might work

I know its not happening but would I rather spend $6m on Ryan Kelly as a bridge Center or buy a couple picks that could turn into your long term answer at C and another position