Official 2025 Chargers Discussion | 2025 Roster Build | In-Season

[CanadianBoltFan]

Hortiz might just have to get creative -- another Elijah Molden trade out there for a team looking to offload a player that might not be a fit for what they want but might work for the Chargers

Yes...all signs point to this as an off season to be smart about FA spending as its not a bumper crop and there is tons of cap space floating around out there. Fortunately we have the type of GM who seems pretty disciplined with the plan, short term and long term.

[Lefty2SLO]

As far as C goes, I think at this point it’s going to be either Bozeman or Zion. That opens the door for them to sign a couple Gs like Aaron Banks who projects better in a gap scheme. And they can also go after Gs like Becton or Fries. I Then they can draft a guy like C Jake Majors to be their future C a couple 1 or 2 years down the line. I think they are approaching this the right way because the C FA class and C draft class is not as strong as the G FA class.

Then we better have world class guards - that never get injured . . . . . . . . . . otherwise it's going to be the same old story

[Bolt4Knob]

Yes...all signs point to this as an off season to be smart about FA spending as its not a bumper crop and there is tons of cap space floating around out there. Fortunately we have the type of GM who seems pretty disciplined with the plan, short term and long term.

I still expect a big time signing on the OLine - not giving up yet but he also won't do something like you said - play the long game. If you don't spend cap space this year, you can roll it to when it makes sense.

[Boltjolt]

Then we better have world class guards - that never get injured . . . . . . . . . . otherwise it's going to be the same old story

Right, and Banks ain't a world class OG.

Daniels, Becton or Jenkins wills be better. Get two of them.
Jennings is good but gets dinged. Maybe Ben Herbert can help him there.

[Boltnut]

Zeitler is 34. Coming off another injury plagued season.
Might as well spend the money and get Becton. He played all year at RG and was really good. He’s 25 years old. And in a pinch he could kick out to RT.

Then find another Left Guard like Booker in the draft. And Bozeman should be better with 2 good G’s next to him for a year.

OT Donovan Jackson Ohio St. played Left Guard too. He’s not making it out of the top of the 2nd round. Ratledge is also a Left Guard. Georgia. Probably going to have to go get a high 3rd to get him though.


I think that’s the best way to solve the Oline this year.
Then get a C next year.

Zeitler played 1047 snaps to Becton's 903 snaps. Zeitler had a pff score of 86.8 vs 75.2 for Becton. More concerning is Becton's 63.6 pass blocking grade... that's Zion Johnson territory (exact same 63.6 pass blocking grade).

Will Fries had 268 snaps this year... and Jonah Jackson had 266 snaps...

I'm not buying the "FA OG/OC market is weak" narrative. Zeitler is a fit @RG for Roman's offense. James Daniels (albeit coming off an achilles tear) is versatile (college OC) player that can play center or LG. These 2 players just make sense... and we can compete with the FA money we have available to us. Plug these holes temporarily and wait for better IOL draft prospects next draft.

[Boltinloudguy]

Then we better have world class guards - that never get injured . . . . . . . . . . otherwise it's going to be the same old story

You don’t need world class, you just need better Gs. I think Bozeman for another year and 2 good Gs will be a much better line than last year. You are not going to fix all 3 interior spots in 1 offseason, but you can improve it.

[Jack Burton]

You misunderstood. For sure a guy like Becton at RG or certain DL like Osa O or Golston or Odaybingo. I am spending the money When I mention Scherff or Zeitler - those are second options

What I meant - is say a guy like Fries, bit of an injury history - giving him multiple years might not be the way to go. Again, all you can do is y our research and diligence.
I don't expect Hortiz to sign guys just to sign them though -
Jonah Jackson - maybe you take a short term flyer -- but not at 17.5m - negotiate that contract down to like $10m or so

An, yeah. I get what you are saying. Short term contract you can jump off of in a year.

[Jack Burton]

Zeitler played 1047 snaps to Becton's 903 snaps. Zeitler had a pff score of 86.8 vs 75.2 for Becton. More concerning is Becton's 63.6 pass blocking grade... that's Zion Johnson territory (exact same 63.6 pass blocking grade).

Will Fries had 268 snaps this year... and Jonah Jackson had 266 snaps...

I'm not buying the "FA OG/OC market is weak" narrative. Zeitler is a fit @RG for Roman's offense. James Daniels (albeit coming off an achilles tear) is versatile (college OC) player that can play center or LG. These 2 players just make sense... and we can compete with the FA money we have available to us. Plug these holes temporarily and wait for better IOL draft prospects next draft.

Zeitler finished the season injured. He’s 34.
Daniel’s tore his Achilles and finished the season injured.

These two players make no sense to me. Unless you are looking for more of the same from both.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I still expect a big time signing on the OLine - not giving up yet but he also won't do something like you said - play the long game. If you don't spend cap space this year, you can roll it to when it makes sense.

I agree we will see an IOL signing. Hortiz wont go into the draft under pressure and pigeon holed to have to take IOL early over BPA. I think I recall in an interview he said he likes to go into the draft with enough roster depth his hand is not forced in the draft because he is taking players for the next 5 years so he wants the best talent.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

You don’t need world class, you just need better Gs. I think Bozeman for another year and 2 good Gs will be a much better line than last year. You are not going to fix all 3 interior spots in 1 offseason, but you can improve it.

Honestly, I cannot imagine Bozeman being on the roster this season. Just Say No!

It doesn't matter if he's a World Class Leader if he can't play worth <excrement>. IMO, doing better at Center than what Bozeman provided last year is essential to the Bolts making the next step up in the NFL Food Chain.

And there's no legit justification for exposing Herb to the same degree of Pocket Assault he's experienced thus far in his career. Herb can't DO better unless he HAS better.

Free Agency can't and won't solve the entire problem. On Days 1 & 2 of the draft, O-line really has to be a priority*, unless the talent differential between the BPA and the best O-lineman available is just too significant.

*I'll broaden the parameters by saying that the right RB or TE or WR would also make Herb's life safer, especially the first two. So Joe Hortiz' mission of preserving Herb can also be served by selecting a talented, system-fit TE who just so happens to be more highly rated than any remaining O-lineman.

But I'm predicting that TWO of the Bolts first three picks will be invested in offensive players, because... why squander Herb's career?!?.

[Charge!]

It wouldn't surprise me though...the Chefs did trade up for Mahomes...all the way up from #27 to #10...

yup!... Reid knows wht the most important positions are in football... they let Hill go, and won 2 consecutive SB's with at TE as the winning factor because defesnes cannoit stop great TE's..... remember how unstoppable Gates was on 3rd downs when defenses knew he was the main target?... they could not stop him.... just like kelsey in playoffs.....

[Jack Burton]

Honestly, I cannot imagine Bozeman being on the roster this season. Just Say No!

It doesn't matter if he's a World Class Leader if he can't play worth <excrement>. IMO, doing better at Center than what Bozeman provided last year is essential to making the next step up in the NFL Food Chain.

And there's no legit justification for exposing Herb to the same degree of Pocket Assault he's experienced thus far in his career. Herb can't DO better unless he HAS better.

Free Agency can't and won't solve the entire problem. On Days 1 & 2 of the draft, O-line really has to be a priority*, unless the talent differential between the BPA and the best O-lineman available is just too significant.

*I'll broaden the parameters by saying that the right RB or TE or WR would also make Herb's life safer, especially the first two. So Joe Hortiz' mission of preserving Herb can also be served by selecting a talented, system-fit TE who just so happens to be more highly rated than any remaining O-lineman.

But I'm predicting that TWO of the Bolts first three picks will be invested in offensive players.

Like I said, I think they can do it, but signing 34-35 year old, injury riddled guys probably aren’t lasting the season and are just a waste. They are right back where they were last year. They've obviously got to prioritize the O line. Bad. Not just in FA and somewhere in the top 3 rounds of the draft, but the chargers need a young swing tackle who can play G or C too..This team is thin on the O line even with their 2 OT’s.

That’s a solid prediction, BTW..