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

[Chargers8491]

Trade Slater post June 2026 and it's only 5.8mil dead money and 18mil savings.

Browns trading Garrett post June 2026 and it's a 15.5 dead money and 8mil savings.

Both players have almost identical cap number hits for next 3 years 2026,27,28.

Trade Update. Post June 2026 Trade.
R.Slater OT, Q.Johnston WR, 2027 1st Rd , 2028 1st Rd. to Browns for M.Garrett DE because he again demands a trade. And the math works very nicely in a post June trade. Browns get a franchise Left Tackle and starting WR plus two additional 1st Rd picks. Trade would not go through unless Slater passes the physical, so Browns can feel comfortable he is ready to play again.

Chargers have their franchise LT with Joe Alt.
They need a franchise DE to replace Mack. And they get the best guy possible to replace him with Garrett.

Browns could be in the market for LT as their current starter Robinson who was acquired with a late Rd pick swap is on the final year of his deal and will be a free agent after this year. So they do have an important roster spot at LT to address in the off season.

Hortiz could make a call and the offer way ahead of the post June timeframe, could even begin the talks pre draft and just not execute the deal until post June so both teams avoid the big dead money hits.

Make it happen Hortiz. LFG!!!!

Garrett will be 30 y/o next year. it would be unwise to give that much capital to trade for a guy who will be 30, IMHO.

[21&500]

[Boltjolt]

My view is QJ won't be retained, so putting him in the trade package isn't a difficult decision. As for Slater I suspect he won't be the left tackle anymore. Joe Alt is a great fit at LT and he has an obvious BFF connection with Herbert. Slater is a great player but was paid Left Tackle money, so if I can trade him for Garrett it is a way better use of that money. Mack is great but also very close to retiring soon. I look at adding Garrett as he is my 2027 1st Rd #1 rated prospect on the board. Moving up from bottom Rd1 to the top of that draft will have a substantial cost. But I also get that player for the 2026 season. If Browns would do it for just one 1st rd pick, even better. However I think they will want more to trade Garrett. So the 2028 pick which should be a low Rd1 pick is added. I'm expecting the 2027 and 2028 pick to be in the 25-32 range. And generally when I look at drafts there are rarely 20 players actually worth a 1st. And very few worth a top 5 pick. Players 25-75 are all very close level of talent. And if you're going to build a quality team you need to do way better than just hit on Rd1 pick. You have to find starters and depth Rd2,-5. And so far Hortiz seems to have that skill of finding quality players in the mid rds. There is also free agents where one solid target added as a starter can supplement the missing low Rd1 pick. There is also this saying that a bird in hand is better than two in the bush. And having Garrett vs two low Rd1 rookies is a known bird vs two unknowns that won't even play until 2027 and then 2028. I already have Garrett for 2026 and 2027 before 2028 rookie even gets a snap. Superbowl is the goal. And I think this move gets the Chargers closer to the Lombardi Trophy than an unknown 2028 pick. So added that additional pick to get Browns to say yes it worth it and not too steep a price to pay IMO.

I just want to point out that Sewell has never played LT in Detroit and got "LT money",... And there he is at RT.
So I just think that is irrelevant.


Maybe one day he will go back there as their LT Decker is 32 but,.....he has been at RT now for 5 years.
He probably could go back there but this is the reason some of ya are giving the reason Alt will probably stay at LT and then we would be moving Slater to the other side while counting college he has been at LT for 6 years.

Either way, both Slater and Sewell getting LT money.

[Critty]

so in effect you’re willing to trade McConk, Hampton, QJ and your All Pro LT (read: very rare) for one guy…. Critty you’re outta your tree and veering dangerously close to team Tommy John tendency.

Not exactly.
QJ yes. I have my franchise LT with Alt. So parting with my former LT who is paid LT money, but isn't my current or future franchise left tackle to get the best DL in football. Yes.
If hypothetically it would have cost Hampton to get Garrett. Then yes.
McConk was a 2nd Rd guy Hortiz traded up for. I didnt trade 2nds and didnt prevent Hortiz from moving up in Rd 2 in 2027 or 2028 to get a guy he likes as he did with Ladd.
What exactly did QJ, Slater, Hampton contribute on Thursday night when Chargers beat the Vikings? 2 IRs and no catch performance. I like a healthy Hampton a lot and I like a healthy Slater a lot. QJ still plays too small and inconsistent for my liking.
I trust your boy OG to make the big catch any day over QJ.

If the OL blocks well, I can still do very well if I have solid depth at RB. RBs a very much a dime a dozen. Not that Hampton isn't a great player. But he isn't ever worth a top 5 pick or #1 overall. Garrett is easily worth a top 5 pick.

Tommy John never had the guts to make the picks or moves I would make.

[Chargers8491]

I know you to be a reasonably poster. I am the one who suggested we try and trade Rashawn. The time to send out feelers would be in the Spring. Precedent, examples, similar trades were shown. Somehow, this has all gotten twisted.

I expect Alt and Zion to get established as our right (left*) side, moving forward. That is my vision for how the foundation is built for our future OL.

None of us know what is going to happen. Yet, even with my bonafides, I am treated with snarky condescending backlash, for making a suggestion for how best to deal with the unfortunate Rashawn saga.

Have a good one, Chargers8491.

Sorry if my post came of snarky or condescending that was not the intent.

IMHO, it's going to be very difficult to almost impossible to trade Rashawn given his current condition. There is just way too many unknows. When Slater is healthy you have the best 2 bookends in the NFL. I'm not sure why you would want to break that up when teams spend years trying to build their bookends with what the Chargers have.

Just curious, how do plan on replacing Slater?

[Lone Bolt]

26 yr old...pretty decent if not exactly probowler, Center/Guard versatility, strength pass blocking...Im not seeing much downside here...

One of Jim's boys...could this be the break we are looking for?

[Jack Burton]

26 yr old...pretty decent if not exactly probowler, Center/Guard versatility, strength pass blocking...Im not seeing much downside here...

One of Jim's boys...could this be the break we are looking for?

What are we looking at for him? A 4th?

[Lone Bolt]

What are we looking at for him? A 4th?

Im clueless...he was a first rounder...Saints will probably want a little more...not sure what I would give...but if we are willing to spend a second or third on a rookie in 26'...?

[beachcomber]

26 yr old...pretty decent if not exactly probowler, Center/Guard versatility, strength pass blocking...Im not seeing much downside here...

One of Jim's boys...could this be the break we are looking for?

that's the guy I woulda taken in lieu of Kenneth Murray....

[wu-dai clan]

Sorry if my post came of snarky or condescending that was not the intent.

IMHO, it's going to be very difficult to almost impossible to trade Rashawn given his current condition. There is just way too many unknows. When Slater is healthy you have the best 2 bookends in the NFL. I'm not sure why you would want to break that up when teams spend years trying to build their bookends with what the Chargers have.

Just curious, how do plan on replacing Slater?

I actually appreciate your posting style !

Re Slater, I expect surprising developments between now and next spring.

It could be Bobby Hart.
It could be Kadyn Proctor.
It could EASILY be that there is no replacement.
I would like to build a full roster and that involves much cap space into future years.

We are in the midst of establishing OL identity, featuring physical play from Alt and Zion.

Once everyone buys in and a "healthy, fluorishing ecosystem", as Robert Mays calls it, the sum becomes greater than the total of its parts.

Step by step.

LOL. I've been studying OL for years and still often get within a whisker of tapping out with these Chargers.

Why the hell doesn't Hardwick have Bozeman playing better football, for example.

[Chargers8491]

I just want to point out that Sewell has never played LT in Detroit and got "LT money",... And there he is at RT.
So I just think that is irrelevant.


Maybe one day he will go back there as their LT Decker is 32 but,.....he has been at RT now for 5 years.
He probably could go back there but this is the reason some of ya are giving the reason Alt will probably stay at LT and then we would be moving Slater to the other side while counting college he has been at LT for 6 years.

Either way, both Slater and Sewell getting LT money.

IMHO, if Slater comes back 100% he will go back to LT and Alt will go back to RT. There is no reason to break up something that is a strength. Alt will be the future LT after Slater's time here is done, IMHO.

[dmac_bolt]

Also... I see some of you are still hung-up on the old philosophy of "LT must be better than RT".
That idea is dead... it has been dead for 10 years now. New (actually old) philosophy is that DC's will attack your weakest link along the OL... rendering your elite OT useless if your RT is puke. In fact, if both OT's can dominate in the run/pass game without TE and RB help... you can deploy them better and overwhelm a defense. With Slater/Alt @OT... we can overwhelm defenses. Just fix those weak links (IOL). We now have playmakers galore. Fix the OC position... and re-fortify the defense. There are weak links on the defense, too.

There is a strong theme emerging that RT is not an important position. I agree with you, top RTs are now making what top LTs make. Teams no longer just leave there one best pass rusher over the blind side LT all game long like days of yore. For one, they will move him over the RT if the RT sucks. For two, most good teams have two good rushers and you have to protect both sides now more than "yore".

I love Joe Alt. I don't think people remember how total a lock down PT that Slater was last year. I don't know why all of our hard nosed trencher friends are suddenly saying "meh, we don't need a complete trench". its a fun discussion but I'm sure Jim does not agree with the theory that they only needed one good OT.

Joe Alt would not even be on the team if they believed that.