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

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

The Chargers had already gotten a bargain, he finished his rookie deal with us for like 4mil, then the year he had in 2024 more than paid for that 7th round pick invested in the trade, this is just frosting on the cake, he was a 3rd round pick and if he plays out the full three years the Chargers will have gotten 4 years of Molden for under 22.5mil and a 7th rounder, that's not even 6mil APY...

these are the kind of deals that make playing the compensatory formula worth while...huge return on a lower round pick when another team is dumping salary before Final Cuts to the 53man roster...we see it every year but it's always the Steelers or the Ravens or the Eagles or some other team making those deals but now it's us too

As important as anything else, Joe Hortiz didn't wait for Molden to hit the waiver wire and hope to be able to claim him. Instead, he sent the future 7th round pick (in 2026, right?) to make it a done deal.

Joe went out and GOT Molden, instead of waiting for Molden to fall into his grasp. Molden then went out and had a season that proved how right Hortiz was to go get him.

[Steve]

He signed a 3yr/18.75 contract with 13.5 mil guaranteed. Spotrac was pretty much on.

Elijah Molden, Chargers agree to $18.75 million, 3-year deal - ESPN

Every team is going to have their idea of how to value a player. I am just happy to have one of our starters back (depending on how you define starters). But since we spend so much time in our nickel packages, it's hard to see how he doesn't qualify.

But given how much time we spend in the 2 deep look, we still need a 2nd high S unless they plan on putting Gilman out of position there again. Gilman is much better up in the slot in star position, like Derwin. Only with Derwin playing the money position, it makes it hard to find a spot for Gilman.

[Steve]

Poona Ford for sure. I think he outplayed his contract and should continue to be a stellar defender

But how did Mack out play his contract last year to get a raise this year? His 2024 was worse than 2023 and he got paid $19m last year. The second half of the season was much worse than the first half. I know he had two sacks against Houston. But tackles and sacks, one of his worst seasons, excluding 2021, when he was injured.

For me, Mack on a one year deal making around $18m make sense - anything more that would be a multiple year commitment or a huge cap hit to release him (>$5-6m) just makes no sense. Still makes more sense to sign a younger DLineman who will get better over the next three years. People bring up Allen, Mack, Williams (Popper did, made no sense)-those are lateral moves at best. Time to move this team forward.

And lastly - its not about paying "our players first." Its about fielding the best roster possible - and sure, that should include Molden and Ford on defense but still, Hortiz needs to improve the roster.

Mack is complicated. He will cost us $8 mill vs the cap, whether he plays for us or not (from the voided years). So when you bring up $18 mill, does that include the $8 mill from his old contract or not???

As far as metrics, tackles and sacks are poor stats to use to judge edge rushers. His stats because we like to rotate our edge guys. So that decreases his playing time, meaning he can be just as productive from a rate standpoint, but still drop off in terms of overall production. There is obviously more too it with age and injuries, but if the metrics to pay players are based on stats that we are limiting his playing time, then there are some obvious problems with that as a way of gauging performance. Especially at a position like edge, where you have to have 3 or 4 man rotations.

[Steve]

Bosa technically is making $0 as nothing is guaranteed. He will be lucky to get to $10m

Joey's pro-rated bonus is over $11 mill, so his cap number starts at $11 mill+, whether he plays for us or not. The rest of it will be depend on what he gets in terms of salary.

[dmac_bolt]

Mack is complicated. He will cost us $8 mill vs the cap, whether he plays for us or not (from the voided years). So when you bring up $18 mill, does that include the $8 mill from his old contract or not???

As far as metrics, tackles and sacks are poor stats to use to judge edge rushers. His stats because we like to rotate our edge guys. So that decreases his playing time, meaning he can be just as productive from a rate standpoint, but still drop off in terms of overall production. There is obviously more too it with age and injuries, but if the metrics to pay players are based on stats that we are limiting his playing time, then there are some obvious problems with that as a way of gauging performance. Especially at a position like edge, where you have to have 3 or 4 man rotations.

He costs $8.9M, so more than 8, if we do nothing and he walks. Dead cap money. If they do a deal for say $15M, they could push some or all that $8.9 out to the next void year and actually sign him for a lower net change to 2025 cap. That may be a reason to sign him again actually. Depends on what else they are projecting for 2026 team cap and needs - they have multi-year projection plans

[Bolt4Knob]

He costs $8.9M, so more than 8, if we do nothing and he walks. Dead cap money. If they do a deal for say $15M, they could push some or all that $8.9 out to the next void year and actually sign him for a lower net change to 2025 cap. That may be a reason to sign him again actually. Depends on what else they are projecting for 2026 team cap and needs - they have multi-year projection plans

I think the 8.9m for Mack is locked in since its the last year of his deal. So if they do a deal for $15m - they can push some of the $15m new money to the future but the $8.9m is there already and that cannot be lowered.

Bosa is the same, he had a dead cap of $11m.

[Bolt4Knob]

Mack is complicated. He will cost us $8 mill vs the cap, whether he plays for us or not (from the voided years). So when you bring up $18 mill, does that include the $8 mill from his old contract or not???

As far as metrics, tackles and sacks are poor stats to use to judge edge rushers. His stats because we like to rotate our edge guys. So that decreases his playing time, meaning he can be just as productive from a rate standpoint, but still drop off in terms of overall production. There is obviously more too it with age and injuries, but if the metrics to pay players are based on stats that we are limiting his playing time, then there are some obvious problems with that as a way of gauging performance. Especially at a position like edge, where you have to have 3 or 4 man rotations.

For Mack, I don't count the 8.9mn - that is on the books whether he for the Chargers are not. I am talking about a one year deal for $18m in cash. So the new contract (however they would work the cap) plus his dead cap of 8.9m will be his cap hit

I understand there is more to being edge than tackles and sacks but if you look statiscally at his career - it was his worst year. If you look at the first 9 games compare to the last 8 regular season games, there was a big difference. So to your point, if they are limiting his snaps more as he is ages - why would they pay him premium dollars if he is not playing premium snaps.

[Bolt4Knob]

As important as anything else, Joe Hortiz didn't wait for Molden to hit the waiver wire and hope to be able to claim him. Instead, he sent the future 7th round pick (in 2026, right?) to make it a done deal.

Joe went out and GOT Molden, instead of waiting for Molden to fall into his grasp. Molden then went out and had a season that proved how right Hortiz was to go get him.

Which is kind of why I might be willing to throw the Jets a bone with a day 3 pick if Adams were to agree to a new contract. Molden was a bargain both in terms of the trade, the salary last year and this three year contract

[Jack Burton]

Which is kind of why I might be willing to throw the Jets a bone with a day 3 pick if Adams were to agree to a new contract. Molden was a bargain both in terms of the trade, the salary last year and this three year contract

I’d be good with that.
Do an Adams deal.

[dmac_bolt]

For Mack, I don't count the 8.9mn - that is on the books whether he for the Chargers are not. I am talking about a one year deal for $18m in cash. So the new contract (however they would work the cap) plus his dead cap of 8.9m will be his cap hit

I understand there is more to being edge than tackles and sacks but if you look statiscally at his career - it was his worst year. If you look at the first 9 games compare to the last 8 regular season games, there was a big difference. So to your point, if they are limiting his snaps more as he is ages - why would they pay him premium dollars if he is not playing premium snaps.

But see - maybe not. Last year they pushed part of his 2024 re-deal to 2025 “Void year”. They can do another 1 yr deal and push part of it to a 2026 void year so that the delta cap hit to keep him a year is less to minimal. The penalty is that part of the bill is pushed to 2026, currently he adds zero on 2026 team cap

[Chargers8491]

Mack is complicated. He will cost us $8 mill vs the cap, whether he plays for us or not (from the voided years). So when you bring up $18 mill, does that include the $8 mill from his old contract or not???

As far as metrics, tackles and sacks are poor stats to use to judge edge rushers. His stats because we like to rotate our edge guys. So that decreases his playing time, meaning he can be just as productive from a rate standpoint, but still drop off in terms of overall production. There is obviously more too it with age and injuries, but if the metrics to pay players are based on stats that we are limiting his playing time, then there are some obvious problems with that as a way of gauging performance. Especially at a position like edge, where you have to have 3 or 4 man rotations.

Spotrac has a market value @ 3yr/70mil. That doesn't seem to jive. I seriously doubt he will even play 3 more years and on top of that 70 mil seems really high. I think he will take less to stay with the Chargers and retire. Maybe he will wait to see what the Chargers do in free agency. Who knows.

[northerner]

I’d be good with that.
Do an Adams deal.

with Higgins looking unreachable, Adams is looking like the best "expensive" option. would cost some draft capital and salary cap, but he is the real deal.