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

[Jack Burton]

Freeling @#22 seems like a reach. My starting LT is Rashawn Slater. If it is injury you are worried about... he could get hurt at LG too. Rashawn is getting LT money. Putting LT-money at LG doesn't see cost effective. Get a swing tackle via free agency. There are back-up OT's that are better than Pip, Decalus, Hart, Penning... etc.

Not every IOL free agent is Aaron Banks. There are smarter moves. We have the cap space to compete for better. I'll let McD decide on Zion. If they go in that direction (and high-level FA OC)... I'll be good. One draft selection (2nd or 3rd round) should be reserved for RG. If we aren't addressing IOL in free agency and the draft... then we are not a serious contender. I would be fine with McGovern, Zion, and a 2nd/3rd round RG. My dream would be David Edwards, Connor McGovern, and Brian Parker.

I'm not interested in Penning. He's a free agent... there is no reason to bring him back. IMO, there are better depth options @back-up IOL. Right now, Ben Cleveland is on next year's roster for cheap. Let him compete for IOL depth... but neither Cleveland nor Penning are starters.

What Im not fine with is giving Zion 77 MIL. That’s not a solution for a mediocre LG and that’s the epitome of not being cost effective. Who cares if you move the money to LG. It’s irrelevant. Your OT’s are making chump change for years to come.
It’s not “if” Slater gets hurt, it’s “when” he gets hurt at this point. I don’t want another back up having to come in to play RT cause Slaters hurt again and now Alt has to move to LT again. That worked well until the back up RT allowed Alt to get injured too. I would rather have the OTs set and another OT playing LG and if he gets hurt at LG, who cares, they can address depth at that position in FA or the draft. I think 4 players set on the offensive line with scheme versatility helps both MM and Hebert overall much more. Freeling is a better OT at BOTH tackle spots than Parker and it’s not even close. It’s why Parker can’t play OT and is projected to G. I’d rather have 3 starting OTs with one playing G than hoping a rookie can maybe play OT if they need him to when the $h!t hits the fan. That’s all Im saying. It’s scheme effective and makes the likely hood of not having a starting level OT at either spot much less of a possibility as the season goes on. This team now has 1 OT who has missed essentially 2 seasons due to injury and another who’s missed a half a season due to injury. But at least they have a mediocre LG making 77 MIL….

[jamrock]

I don't know if Junior Colson ever pans out but keep an eye on Marlowe Wax in year 2

[CanadianBoltFan]

Chargers can do both -- within reason. All depends on how high linderbaum goes -- but they can bring in Linderbaum, bring back Mack and Oweh and sign a solid OG.

But I agree with you - if its Linderbaum or Mack, assuming Oweh is back, taking Linderbaum.

Agree with you. Resigning Oweh #1 and a good center #2 are THE top 2 off season priorities IMO. Hortiz can be savvy spending after that but he has to open the cheque book on those 2 priorities.

It doesnt have to be Lindenbaum but McGovern won't be cheap either

[CanadianBoltFan]

I get the Linderbaum love, but he does have an injury history. We just went through a season were Hortiz signed an OG with an injury history and how did that work out? Could you imagine paying 20m for a player and they come up hobbled during the year?

Finding the best players is not about spending the most money on a free agent. If McD and Berry think they can roll with Kaltenberger as OC then I'm all for it. If they sign an OC for 6m to be the starter then I good with it. I don't care how much the player cost. The question is can do the freaken job.

True but the higher the pedigree the better the chance is the player does the good job. That is why the best players at their positions cost more money.

[Chargers8491]

I don't know if Junior Colson ever pans out but keep an eye on Marlowe Wax in year 2

I love Wax. He has a nose for the football and seems to be able to read and attack the LOS very well. I expect he will see more playing time this year. It's possible they may let him take Perryman's position next year and they may not need to sign a LBer. The dude needs more reps.

[Boltnut]

It's really difficult to have a discussion on the draft when we haven't seen what they will do in free agency. With that said, I could easily see them taking a IDL and Edge in the 1st 3 rounds regardless of what they do in free agency.

They could re-sign Hand and Phillips and still draft IDL and Edge in the 1st 3 rounds. If Mack is re-signed, they will still need a replacement although they could wait till next year but this year is a deep edge draft. With it being a deep draft, they could get a guy like Tucker on day 3.

I would love to see them sign a FA IDL like one of the ones you have mentioned or Franklin and draft a guy like Caleb Banks. Give OLeary a rotation for days of IDL. CB and S are options as well in rnds 1-3 although I think S would be rnds 2-3.

Anyway, I just have to see what they do in free agency for me to have a better understanding of what they might do in the draft.

I agree... you have to see what they do in free agency. But this is what this thread is all about. We get to be armchair GM's.
I'm not interested in DT Banks... coming off an injury and his game tape doesn't wow me. There are so many other prospects @#22 that I'm interested in. I know the pundits love his physical traits... but his tape doesn't match up IMO. In following rounds, I find other players at PON's that interest me more than the available DT's. That's why (as armchair GM) is to fill my DT position with proven free agent DT's.

Edge is a different story... like you, I believe that Plans-After-Khalil should be made this draft. I'd like to keep Mack this season... but definitely interested in drafting an edge in round 1 or 2. See what he can do (along with Kennard) this season... to see if you can move on from Khalil after 2026.

The other positions that few are talking about are WR and CB. These are positions that are regularly taken in the 1st round. And we have players at those positions (QJ and Jackson) that will be free agents after 2026. Again, draft players there and test drive them in 2026... see if they are good enough to replace departing free agents. You can't/shouldn't extend every high level player... especially if quality players are available in the draft.

[Chargers8491]

True but the higher the pedigree the better the chance is the player does the good job. That is why the best players at their positions cost more money.

Let me ask you this. Would you rather pay $20m for the top OC with an injury history or pay 7m for an OC who is maybe a few steps below the top OC but is still above average in RBing and PBing?

[Bolt4Knob]

True but the higher the pedigree the better the chance is the player does the good job. That is why the best players at their positions cost more money.

Agree with CBF. For sure it would be great if Luke Fortner were signed and he played well, signing for say 24/3 that allows you to spend elsewhere. But, after two years, I am not sure JH2 can risk it in year 3 = they would need to be damn sure that Fortner or the cheaper option gets them to the level they will need to be at the Center position.

I mean, if JH2 or any of us knew the right "formula for IOL" that would produce a top 12-15 OLine, without breaking the bank, we would sign up for it. Every team would. But sometimes, you have to just put your money out there and go for it. As if it fails, it fails. But if you try to budget route again and it fails, Hortiz would have to be unemployed next spring if the players are healthy.

[Boltnut]

What Im not fine with is giving Zion 77 MIL. That’s not a solution for a mediocre LG and that’s the epitome of not being cost effective. Who cares if you move the money to LG. It’s irrelevant. Your OT’s are making chump change for years to come.
It’s not “if” Slater gets hurt, it’s “when” he gets hurt at this point. I don’t want another back up having to come in to play RT cause Slaters hurt again and now Alt has to move to LT again. That worked well until the back up RT allowed Alt to get injured too. I would rather have the OTs set and another OT playing LG and if he gets hurt at LG, who cares, they can address depth at that position in FA or the draft. I think 4 players set on the offensive line with scheme versatility helps both MM and Hebert overall much more. Freeling is a better OT at BOTH tackle spots than Parker and it’s not even close. It’s why Parker can’t play OT and is projected to G. I’d rather have 3 starting OTs with one playing G than hoping a rookie can maybe play OT if they need him to when the $h!t hits the fan. That’s all Im saying. It’s scheme effective and makes the likely hood of not having a starting level OT at either spot much less of a possibility as the season goes on. This team now has 1 OT who has missed essentially 2 seasons due to injury and another who’s missed a half a season due to injury. But at least they have a mediocre LG making 77 MIL….

Oh, me neither... I have a hard time going over $10m AAV.
Even spending $19m on David Edwards gives me pause... but at least I know what I'm getting. Especially if you pair him with Connor McGovern.

Rashawn Slater's cap hit for 2026 approaches $24m. In 2027, it will approach $32m. I'm not interested in spending that kind of money @LG. You paid him LT money... play him @LT.

[Bolt4Knob]

Let me ask you this. Would you rather pay $20m for the top OC with an injury history or pay 7m for an OC who is maybe a few steps below the top OC but is still above average in RBing and PBing?

I will answer - -I have no problem if Fortner is deemed to be a solid option.

Again - its the extreme. I think many fans are so anxious, for lack of a better term as the Oline was like 30th or worse - that bad.

I mean if you can sign Fortner, a solid LG, maybe Edwards, Simpson, even Zion and figure out RG -- and the cost on an AAV basis of Fortner + LG + RG is close to Linderbaum at 21m -- again AAV not cap hit, I think we would be happy if the group is successful

[Chargers8491]

I agree... you have to see what they do in free agency. But this is what this thread is all about. We get to be armchair GM's.
I'm not interested in DT Banks... coming off an injury and his game tape doesn't wow me. There are so many other prospects @#22 that I'm interested in. I know the pundits love his physical traits... but his tape doesn't match up IMO. In following rounds, I find other players at PON's that interest me more than the available DT's. That's why (as armchair GM) is to fill my DT position with proven free agent DT's.

Edge is a different story... like you, I believe that Plans-After-Khalil should be made this draft. I'd like to keep Mack this season... but definitely interested in drafting an edge in round 1 or 2. See what he can do (along with Kennard) this season... to see if you can move on from Khalil after 2026.

The other positions that few are talking about are WR and CB. These are positions that are regularly taken in the 1st round. And we have players at those positions (QJ and Jackson) that will be free agents after 2026. Again, draft players there and test drive them in 2026... see if they are good enough to replace departing free agents. You can't/shouldn't extend every high level player... especially if quality players are available in the draft.

Totally agree and enjoy talking draft but just saying that it's difficult to get a handle on what they will do without free agency signings.

Banks can be and has been a game wrecker. He showed out pretty well at the Shrine Bowl. I think Elston would do wonders for Banks. I also like Lee Hunter as well.

If been talking CB for a while and could very easily see the Chargers taking a CB in rnd 1 especially if one of the top CB drop to them. CB, S, DT, Edge in rnds 1-4 would be pretty good in my book.

[Bolt4Knob]

From an article I saw via Twitter: Sources: NFLPA Expects Salary Cap to Be $303.5M, Players Forbidden From Playing Fantasy Football; Latest on Tua Tagovailoa & Trey Hendrickson - EssentiallySports

NFLPA identifies teams that need to spend $$$


The NFLPA had its annual meeting last week via conference call rather than a forum taking place at the Indianapolis Convention Center, as it often does during the Combine. What were the big takeaways?

The NFLPA told members (agents) that they expect the salary cap to be $303.5 million this league year, though it could reach as high as $305 million. Several teams, including the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, as well as the Tennessee Titans, must spend an additional $50 million on player contracts this year to meet their three-year requirement, according to the CBA.


I am not sure what the above means but it looks like the Chargers might be spending cash this off-season. That said, I am not sur what spending 50m means