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

[Fouts2herbert]

How strong is he? The 3 cone time here is rather poor for both of them (poor KC) ... how is Ndame in reversing directions smoothly? How is his hand usage? How is his bend (Thomas's is very good).

Nothing here tells me that either guy is just going to explode and blow around the OT.

I think Tucker has bend, it's clear form watching highlights that he can bend the corner, granted the lower level competition thing has been thrown out there but if you can't physically do those things then they don't just happen because you are playing lower level competition, bend you either have or you don't...

[Fouts2herbert]

This is a no brainer considering how they stayed away from TE in the draft, Hortiz knew that there would be desirable TEs left over in free agency as teams loaded up on them in the draft...this is not 2025 offseason where the only viable TE option visited both us and the Broncos and ultimately signed with Denver, BTW he didn't do very well there...hopefully we'll have better luck this offseason than we've had with our veteran TE signees the last two offseasons, Dissly was a hit, but Hurts and Conklin were a big nothing burger...hopefully whoever they bring in next monty will be better for us...

[Bolt4Knob]

NOBODY drafted Dame, in spite of his production.

Khalil Mack will not sign off on the cutting of his longtime caddie, Bud Dupree.

What is this stuff about Bud Dupree having to be on the team for his friend Mack?

I just don't believe Mack would care if Dupree is cut if it helps the team

[Fouts2herbert]

Absolutely...whether he would be TE3 or part of a rotation this would be a great move. Massive upgrade over Tanner MacLachlan

If you look at the Charger depth chart, TE room is the most obvious add. Other than that a veteran CB maybe...Keenan as a veteran 6th WR maybe.

Unless Joel Bitonio wants to come west and we can groom Slaughter more gradually. I really see Slaughter as our long term center in 2 years as the best place for him.

The Chargers can afford to throw a big 1 year deal at Njoku and out bid basically any team out there right now, and still have plenty left over to extend Tuli, Henley, and Derwin...the beauty of having this much cap space late in the process is that it gives us much flexibility in post draft free agency and for trade deadline moves too...

[Bolt4Knob]

This is a no brainer considering how they stayed away from TE in the draft, Hortiz knew that there would be desirable TEs left over in free agency as teams loaded up on them in the draft...this is not 2025 offseason where the only viable TE option visited both us and the Broncos and ultimately signed with Denver, BTW he didn't do very well there...hopefully we'll have better luck this offseason than we've had with our veteran TE signees the last two offseasons, Dissly was a hit, but Hurts and Conklin were a big nothing burger...hopefully whoever they bring in next monty will be better for us...

My guess, Njoku was on speed dial if the draft did not produce a TE - meaning they had pre-draft conversations. Hortiz was probably like "if you get a better offer now, take it but we might have interest post-draft if we don't draft TE"

No TE was drafted, no rush to get Njoku -- so they had time to make it work. Probably contractual details also have been discussed. I think Njoku will be a Chargers come Monday night or Tuesday at some point

[Fouts2herbert]

I think Jonnu as a receiveing TE ia a better get. Idk where else Njoku could start but it won't be here.

honestly, I'd be happy with either player, I do like Njoki a tad more tho...any other season we would all be ecstatic if we had access to any of those guys...the worm has turned for this franchise since Harbaugh was brought in, that's for dang sure...

[Fouts2herbert]

I think Njoku is signing in LA next week. He wants to play for a contender after 9 years in Cleveland is the word. And if he signs he will be more than a 3rd stringer who never gets off the bench.

isn't the post draft free agency period that doesn't count towards compensatory picks coming up soon?

[Fouts2herbert]

You nailed it how Tucker can beat out Dupree and that was kind of my point. I don't have Tucker anywhere close to Mesidor. Edge1-3 are Tuli Mack and Mesidor

It is Edge 4 and 5. Now my guess Kennard will be in the mix -- I think heard that Kennard had an injury that slowed him down last year. Not sure

So that leaves Tucker and Bud. If Tucker shows out on special teams and can match Bud, or close to it run and pass rush, he has a chance.

Kennard was not healthy last season, the injury limited him in the draft process in 2025, he might've been a higher pick otherwise...

[CanadianBoltFan]

Tucker is not Mesidor, with all due respect to my more-knowledgeable TPB alum. Mesidor has the most complete edge rush toolkit in the draft, he is stout both against run and pass. He beat the best of the best and was at his best against the best teams in the CFB when the games were biggest. He has a ridiculous blend of power, speed and bend that projects very well. I don’t buy that Baine drew all attention and carried him. His tape is real.

Tucker had a good Sr Bowl week, but he’s not th 3-down player (yet, if ever) that Mesidor is. DL usually dominates OL in the Sr Bowl as OL are 5 guys thrown together at random with almost zero time to learn whatever NFL coaches who happened to be assigned to the game want them to try and do. A good DL game is not always a great indicator of future NFL success, so some cautionary pause should be considered. He doesn’t have the variety of rush moves he will need to succeed against much better NFL OTs than he faced in college. He is a project.

HOWEVER - where I agree - Bud was primarily the second edge-setting DE/OLB to spell Mack who had little to no pass rush contribution. Mesidor can match his edge setting WHILE bringing much more pass rush. If Chargers want to have just 2 edge on the field, and want to give Mack some breathers, Mesidor is the guy to call on first. Bud’s role is reduced to waiting on the bench in case two or more starters get hurt. That give the Chargers the luxury to maybe hold onto a Tucker type that is mainly useful to sub into pass rush downs and keep the starters fresh for the fourth quarter. I think Bud’s future is tied to Tucker and Kennard - if they show anything, he’s odd man out.

Bud wasn’t that good of an edge setter either, after all.

Another great take. You are on fire this weekend!

C'mon people..I know we are excited about O'Leary re-uniting with Tucker and it was a great UDFA signing but let's keep it real...he is not the same or as good as Mesisdor. There is a reason one was a first round pick and one was not drafted.

DMac nails it when he says Nadame will not be a 3 down player...he may carve out a role as situational pass rushing depth and a special teamer.

[wu-dai clan]

What is this stuff about Bud Dupree having to be on the team for his friend Mack?

I just don't believe Mack would care if Dupree is cut if it helps the team

Dame is a weak run defender.
Bud's stats and display of athleticism are limited by his age, yes, and the role he plays.
The idea of experience being harder to beat out in camp competition applies here and at OL too.
All of this is a giant "we'll see".
Thank you B4K for reading my independent editorial comment.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I disagreed with CBF on his point that Thomas and Tucker are worlds apart from a raw talent and athleticism perspective...so I posted some data to refute his claim that the two players are vastly different, I see them close in physical ability...

to me the silly part of the comparison stems from the differences in age and draft position, Thomas a 21 year old guy and a high second round pick is virtually guaranteed a roster spot for the the next 2 years minimum if not the next 4 years...and then there is Tucker, he's going to be 26 years old this coming season, undrafted, no guaranteed roster spot etc...so from that standpoint it makes no sense to compare them...Tucker should and will be compared to other Edge UDFAs and Thomas should and will be compared to other Edge players drafted in the second round, ESPECIALLY the ones that KC passed over to draft Thomas...

Will Tucker have the same opportunity handed to him than Thomas? I don't think he will, on the surface someone might say that they are both on a roster so yes, they are both getting an opportunity, but that is misleading, Thomas has the luxury fail early on and still find redemption later because to an extent he will be guaranteed a job for a few years...meanwhile for Tucker the odds are squarely against him, he has no room for error BUT he does have a couple of things going for him, for starters he's signed up with a team that just hired his college DC AND if he somehow manages to depose both a 4rth rounder from 2025 and the incumbent #4 now that Mesidor is set to be the clear #3...IF Tuckersucceeds in doing those two things he could potentially be in an advantageous position compared to Thomas...Tucker might have a head start on early success in his career due to being surrounded by Tuli, Mack, and Mesidor AND by having O'Leary in his corner putting him in positions to have success....Thomas doesn't have the same caliber of Edge teammates to learn from and to benefit from their presence on the field....the BIG key is whether or not Tucker can get over the two big hurdles, a guy that was drafted just last year in the 4rth round and a guy that is still a proficient run defender and has years of experience in the NFL...

I will say this in regards to how I see both players, I will not be shocked or dismayed if in two or three years the story becomes that in the 2026 draft the Chargers got more form an UDFA player than the Chiefs got from their #40 overall selection...

There is one question though...before you compare the opportunities each of these players will be afforded...

Why was one of these players drafted early in the 2nd round and why was one not drafted? GMs and scouts know some things

[CanadianBoltFan]

NOBODY drafted Dame, in spite of his production.

Khalil Mack will not sign off on the cutting of his longtime caddie, Bud Dupree.

LOL there is that little detail that seems to be ignored