Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | 2nd Wave Of Free Agency

[Steve]

Hortiz's drafts keep looking better and better. What wasn't stated during the game was that Caldwell and Derrick Harmon anchored Oregon's DL in 2024. The Steelers drafted Harmon 1 pick before the Chargers picked in the 1st rnd in April. I believe Hortiz had intended to draft Harmon, Hampton was plan B. So Hortiz targeted Caldwell in the 3rd rnd. Harmon was on the opposite sideline Sun night. Harmon has spent time on IR this year for the Steelers, so maybe it's not fair to compare him to Caldwell, but maybe Caldwell turns out to be the better player, and we got Hampton in the process. The thing about Caldwell is that he has the prototype IDL body, 340 lbs on a 6-1 frame. Opposing OL can't get lower than him, he always has leverage. Jamal Williams had the same body type, big mass in the ass, not real tall.

It is still pretty early in their careers to decide how good a player will be overall. Harmon may still turn out to be a good player. He is being asked to really change his style of play, going from a penetrating 3 tech to a 2 gapping DE. It takes time. And he has the pass rush chops that Caldwell lacks. Time will tell.

That being said, it is hard to not be doing backflips over how well Caldwell has played. There is a lot to his game that can improve, but it is all the elite level development stuff. His pass rush is good enough for a run down guy, and I agree with the video that he keeps getting better in that regard. We don't want DL who are a complete liability vs the one phase (run or pass) and Caldwell getting quicker on his pass rush by reading the plays faster will only improve his play.

I would like to see him lose some fat and get leaner and stronger. He could be better at striking a blow and resetting the LOS back a bit. Even half a step would be huge. Caldwell has forced offenses to hold him a fair number of times, and that would dd more to it, force teams to hold their double teams vs him and give the LB more room.

[Steve]

Excellent point...agreed.

All our WRs + Oronde deserve kudos for blocking, and for realizing distribution of the football is partly based on how we are defensed.

Across the NFL, it is becoming realized that these blocks can be the key to springing big runs.

All our WR deserve some props, but Harris has been outstanding. I cannot recall a rookie WR pulling and leading plays in the run game, and he not only does it but excels at it. Not many vet WR do it well.

I think Harris would be getting a lot more action if he had been on the roster last year. He isn't getting as much action, as many looks in the passing game but that is partly due to having Johnston, McConkey and Allen all on the roster too. All got off to a good start and who do you take off to get Harris on the field? Harris has been getting good reps, which I think says a lot given how the first 3 are playing.

[wu-dai clan]

I agree with the expert here, Steve

Tre Harris
Oronde Gadsden
Omarion Hampton

These are components of winning football.

[Velo]

Do we keep Keenan another year?

Speaking of...I know it's poor manners, controversial, subversive and downright dangerous(!) to compare loved ones...esp. when communicating in-family. Who would do such a thing?

This is an expanded comparison module I added to my system...features more metrics for those who like to dive a little deeper. I haven't done quality control on it, but I think it's all good.




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It's up to him IMO. I think he's shown this season he still can play. I'd leave it up to him. Same with Mack.

[wu-dai clan]

We are almost at that certain point in the Baltimore/Ozzie Newsome roster building cycle where who we draft is mostly dependent who we cannot retain.

Our PONs are dwindling.

Like last year. there are a lot of choices about which players with expiring contracts we want to keep around to cement the culture.

Otherwise, cycling in motivated free agents with one year contracts is part and parcel of the fine art of churning.

Bet ya our PONs change before April.

[Boltjolt]

RE: Harris I feel he has gotten a ton of playing time. But his role is not to be the primary target on passes. He is almost playing HBack at times and is surprisingly effective. He is obviously a very unselfish player in a position filled with selfish ones across the NFL.

Agree...and when AJ Brown comes available in the off season or next season, asking for a trade, i hope posters here dont start saying we should trade for him. We dont need a guy like that.

[Chargers8491]

Agree...and when AJ Brown comes available in the off season or next season, asking for a trade, i hope posters here dont start saying we should trade for him. We dont need a guy like that.

I really like the Chargers WR core going forward. IMHO, Harris needs to get more playing time, but QJ and KA are in his way. I'm not sure what next year holds for KA, if he is coming back or is he going to retire. If he leaves that will open up a spot for Harris.

They could trade QJ, but I just don't see that happening because KA isn't going to be a here much longer. They also have KLS in the wings as well. It will be interesting to see what they do with WR room this offseason.

[northerner]

I really like the Chargers WR core going forward. IMHO, Harris needs to get more playing time, but QJ and KA are in his way. I'm not sure what next year holds for KA, if he is coming back or is he going to retire. If he leaves that will open up a spot for Harris.

They could trade QJ, but I just don't see that happening because KA isn't going to be a here much longer. They also have KLS in the wings as well. It will be interesting to see what they do with WR room this offseason.

KA has been a blessing to get things off to a hot start this year. however, i think he will start to give up playing time if he does come back next year. according to some snap counts i've seen, that is already happening.

the other factor is that all of our WR's have been healthy so far - that is another blessing, but could change at any moment. it is just like in baseball when you have 4 great outfielders - the minute you say "we have too many outfielders" someone get hurt.

[Bolt4Knob]

Agree...and when AJ Brown comes available in the off season or next season, asking for a trade, i hope posters here dont start saying we should trade for him. We dont need a guy like that.

IOL - well really Center, and OG and maybe another OG

If the IOL is fixed, starting with Center, look out - this offense could be dynamic

[dmac_bolt]

It is still pretty early in their careers to decide how good a player will be overall. Harmon may still turn out to be a good player. He is being asked to really change his style of play, going from a penetrating 3 tech to a 2 gapping DE. It takes time. And he has the pass rush chops that Caldwell lacks. Time will tell.

That being said, it is hard to not be doing backflips over how well Caldwell has played. There is a lot to his game that can improve, but it is all the elite level development stuff. His pass rush is good enough for a run down guy, and I agree with the video that he keeps getting better in that regard. We don't want DL who are a complete liability vs the one phase (run or pass) and Caldwell getting quicker on his pass rush by reading the plays faster will only improve his play.

I would like to see him lose some fat and get leaner and stronger. He could be better at striking a blow and resetting the LOS back a bit. Even half a step would be huge. Caldwell has forced offenses to hold him a fair number of times, and that would dd more to it, force teams to hold their double teams vs him and give the LB more room.

Its easy for me to not do back flips, as I'd land somewhere between the top of my head and flush on my face. Loved the Caldwell pick on draft day, love it more now.

[sonorajim]

Its easy for me to not do back flips, as I'd land somewhere between the top of my had and flush on my face. Loved the Caldwell pick on draft day, love it more now.

I did a "backflip" off the edge of a swimming pool. What could go wrong? Don't get away from the hard stuff enough.
I scraped the back of my head and shoulders. Nothing serious but lesson learned. Never tried that again.
A few beers may have been involved

[FoutsFan]

I did a "backflip" off the edge of a swimming pool. What could go wrong? Don't get away from the hard stuff enough.
I scraped the back of my head and shoulders. Nothing serious but lesson learned. Never tried that again.
A few beers may have been involved

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