Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[gzubeck]

Minicamp....just to wet your appetite...

[dmac_bolt]

Agreed.

Two guys were bad last year...so you move them to positions they don't play and hope they are better?

well, when you say it like that ...

[richpjr]

Agreed.

Two guys were bad last year...so you move them to positions they don't play and hope they are better?

Don't write off James. I still think he ends up a strong contender to start at center.

[el_jefe999]

Don't write off James. I still think he ends up a strong contender to start at center.

Well let the competition play out but I agree that I think the most likely scenario is James starts at center and Johnson LG.

[Topcat]

Well let the competition play out but I agree that I think the most likely scenario is James starts at center and Johnson LG.

All I know is, after a few games, if Zion keeps allowing sacks and pressures like last season again, I hope Harbo is smart enough to yank him and try someone else...the fact that the Bolts didn't pick up Zion's 5th year option speaks volumes...and I think he's in the hot seat skating on thin ice...

[wu-dai clan]

Crucial IOL errors can be so consequential.

Joe Burrow suffered a season ending knee injury when a backup OLG failed to protect, and the Bengals lost a Super Bowl when their IOL could not hold up a fraction longer.

The Rams were in the Red Zone ready to beat the Eagles in the 2024 NFCDG.

Then rookie Center Beau Limmer failed to account for Jalen Carter, ala Zion/Boze. Stafford sacked. Clock runs.

High priced ORG Kevin Dotson had a false start, unforced error, on the next play. Eagles got to sub in for eleven completely gassed defenders.

Season over.
It happens.

[21&500]

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[Ghost of Quacksaw]

All I know is, after a few games, if Zion keeps allowing sacks and pressures like last season again, I hope Harbo is smart enough to yank him and try someone else..

Do you really mean this? I mean, for Forum Doofuses like us to be questioning Harbaugh's Football Smarts... Well, that isn't very smart. He took a very suspect and limited team into the playoffs, for the love of <deity of choice>.

.

the fact that the Bolts didn't pick up Zion's 5th year option speaks volumes...and I think he's in the hot seat skating on thin ice...

I don't think any of us questions that it's "put up, or shut up" time for Zion. He has no future with the Bolts if he doesn't play above average THIS year, because there's no reason to re-sign a guy to a significant money contract if he's not AT LEAST above average.

I don't see it as especially damning, though, that his 5th year option wasn't picked up. IIRC, a 5th year option contract pays at the top 15% level for all players at that position. So unless a guy has turned into a star, there's no reason to secure that 5th, EXPENSIVE year, and we know that 50+% of 1st round draft picks DON'T become stars during their rookie contract (if ever!). The 5th year option NOT being picked up is fairly common, not a rare and incriminating thing.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Don't write off James. I still think he ends up a strong contender to start at center.

Hope so!

Hate to say but there isnt one Charger I have less faith in than Bozeman. He sucked the year before in Carolina also. Love everything about the Chargers, lots of depth and players to be excited to watch this season but IOL is the one concern.

[Dark Helmet]

Hope so!

Hate to say but there isnt one Charger I have less faith in than Bozeman. He sucked the year before in Carolina also. Love everything about the Chargers, lots of depth and players to be excited to watch this season but IOL is the one concern.

Agree. Even adding Becton (who we are banking has another year like last year, as opposed to all prior years when he was considered to be a fat, lazy bust) to replace Pipkins, the other two guys were seemingly garbage. Not sure how it makes sense that either player (Bozeman & Johnson) will play better by swapping positions. Seems like the IOL is a bit of a finger cross. You can have all the talent at skill positions you want, but if you can't pass/run block for shit, then it doesn't matter. And the powers that be know this. Again, they weren't going to fix it all in a year or two, and I am very happy to see more talent at the skill positions. But yeah, the IOL still worries me.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Agree. Even adding Becton (who we are banking has another year like last year, as opposed to all prior years when he was considered to be a fat, lazy bust) to replace Pipkins, the other two guys were seemingly garbage..

For the most part, the people who believed that weren't taking into account ANYthing about his circumstances, or the circumstances of the team (Jets) he was drafted by.

He was on an awful, struggling team that was under a lot of pressure to succeed. That pressure was transmitted from the coaching staff to the players. Bechton was injured, and pressured to play through it, which he couldn't effectively do. Coaches fearful of being fired had no patience for that, and took a harsh "Get your ass out there on the field!" approach. Understandably, Bechton came to believe that the people on the Jets he answered to didn't give a shit about him. That doesn't inspire most humans, know what I mean?

Understanding all of those circumstances, I don't draw the conclusion of 'fat, lazy bust'.

[dmac_bolt]

All I know is, after a few games, if Zion keeps allowing sacks and pressures like last season again, I hope Harbo is smart enough to yank him and try someone else...the fact that the Bolts didn't pick up Zion's 5th year option speaks volumes...and I think he's in the hot seat skating on thin ice...

i'd go easy on those guesses. I think the Chargers have not seen Zion play like he's worth $20M/yr - which is the approx option year contract. Thats a huge leap from thinking they see anyone better sitting on the bench - I don't think they do, and nothing indicates they do. Lindbaum didnt get his option picked up for the same reason imo.