Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[dmac_bolt]

Penning and Hart didn’t play so there’s a possible improvement in personnel.

But far more importantly, Gro got to see another game with this OL group and especially Deculus at LT against a formidable pass and run defense.

He learns what works and doesn’t work in games like that and will continue to improve the scheme.

So I disagree we saw as competent of performing an offensive line as we are gonna see this year”

Schemes are always a work in progress and evolving. Last nights game gave coaches and players another blueprint of what works and what doesn’t.

That was my first thought when I read Wu's post. Penning is not good by the standard of 1st Rd OTs. I do suspect he is better than Dec. when he starts (which may be Sunday).
I already saw Hart play better than Pipkins. I haven't seen when he'll come back. I am ok if Pipkins does need to play, he's not great but he doesn't scare me like Deculus does.

Last night's game was more doesnt work than works imo. They have played much better in other games. Its the same story all around the league - we focus on Chargers but all teams and offenses have better and worse days like this too. Only takes a handful of plays to flip either way and the day was great or horrible. Any Given Sunday.

[Maniaque 6]

Meanwhile, nobody talks about Salyer ...

[dmac_bolt]

Meanwhile, nobody talks about Salyer ...

Coaches say he can't run block. pisses them off that his spear has no tip, they seem to take it personally

[Riverwalk]

That was my first thought when I read Wu's post. Penning is not good by the standard of 1st Rd OTs. I do suspect he is better than Dec. when he starts (which may be Sunday).
I already saw Hart play better than Pipkins. I haven't seen when he'll come back. I am ok if Pipkins does need to play, he's not great but he doesn't scare me like Deculus does.

Last night's game was more doesnt work than works imo. They have played much better in other games. Its the same story all around the league - we focus on Chargers but all teams and offenses have better and worse days like this too. Only takes a handful of plays to flip either way and the day was great or horrible. Any Given Sunday.

True. There’s still a lot not working.

Nevertheless, in the scheme of things Gro has had precious little time to work with this ever changing OL but each week creates a huge body of work which can be examined and refined.

They can make big strides in understanding what works and what doesn’t with Deculus and add some more plays to the scheme.

And there’s Penning. If he isn’t an upgrade to Deculus then he is complete dogshit and won’t be here next year.

There’s a number of reasons to believe the OL can get better this season, confidence after that win not being the least of them.

[Maniaque 6]

Yes, that OL can be better this year
With Salyer at LT and Penning at RT

[Bolt4Knob]

True. There’s still a lot not working.

Nevertheless, in the scheme of things Gro has had precious little time to work with this ever changing OL but each week creates a huge body of work which can be examined and refined.

They can make big strides in understanding what works and what doesn’t with Deculus and add some more plays to the scheme.

And there’s Penning. If he isn’t an upgrade to Deculus then he is complete dogshit and won’t be here next year.

There’s a number of reasons to believe the OL can get better this season, confidence after that win not being the least of them.

I will say this -- if the unit of Deculus, Zion, Boze, Becton and Pipkins were healthy the rest of the season and the starting unit for the next 7 games -- I would think they would improve as a unit just by playing together more games

[CanadianBoltFan]

We are seeing as competent of performing an offensive line as we are gonna see this year.

There could be a slight boost in our running game with the insertion of Penning.

Becton-Pipkins worked last night. Admit it. Deculus-Zion had some moments.

GRo-Herb worked it like a boss. Steelers gameplanned to pinch the middle of the field. We then made them defend horizontally. We mixed in Vidal runs, a lot of them INSIDE runs. Then we could use the middle passing zones.

Our best hope is for these same dudes, including pick your favorite TPB whipping boy, to use bludgeoning to keep defenses honest, and Herbert healthy and cooking, with GRo's ingredient list.

Deculus did have his usual worst grade on the offence though. i think 36 or something. Penning, Hart, Salyer seem better to me

[wu-dai clan]

Deculus did have his usual worst grade on the offence though. i think 36 or something. Penning, Hart, Salyer seem better to me

Prediction:
Penning for Deculus...pretty soon.
Hart sits with a healthier Pipkins.

It's a bit ghastly, but Harbs will go for status quo.

[Boltnut]

So this is only an exercise... If you hate reading, then skip this post.

The strategy: (1) Re-build of the IOL (2) Retain most of the 2026 free agents (3) Sign very few outside free agents (in hopes of getting comp picks)

The means: I will use OTC's 2026 Salary Cap Calculator tool. I will use OTC's Valuation tool to estimate players values.


Players I cut: RG Mekhi Becton (cap savings of $10m). Also cut Marlow Wax, Jordan Oladokun, Savion Washington, and Josh Fuga because I don't think they make the 53-man roster.

Players I re-sign (don't count against the comp calculation):

Khalil Mack ($18m) He's so valuable. Re-sign @this year's salary.
Teair Tart ($8m) This is about what Poona Ford got from the Rams. Tart is playing just as well.
Da'Shawn Hand ($4m) A pay raise for his good production.
Naquan Jones ($2m) A slight pay raise.
Odafe Oweh ($10m) This is his approximate salary this year. Edge rushers cost money even with modest production.
Denzel Perryman ($2.5m) Slight increase. We are a better run defense with him. Insurance against another Colson injury.
Benjamin St Juste ($3.5m) Modest pay increase.
Deane Leonard ($2m) Depth @CB. He looked good as a gunner.
Tony Jefferson ($1.5m) Old... but still effective. Cheap depth.
Josh Harris ($1.5m) Old... effective. Cheap.
Trevor Penning ($3m) Still young. Tackle/guard versatile. Depth @OT.
Zion Johnson ($7m) OTC has his value @nearly $11m... I wouldn't pay $11m.
Jamaree Salyer ($1.5) Tackle/guard versatility. He might want more... or a chance @starting. We might want better @OG depth.
Najee Harris ($2.5m) We certainly didn't get our ROI... maybe he feels bad. Coming off injury, $2.5m feels fair.
Kimani Vidal ($1m) He an ERFA. Cheap. Starting to develop nicely.
Trey Lance ($3m) He may want more... or a chance to start.
Tucker Fisk ($1.5m) A RFA. Starting to develop.
Tyler Conklin ($1.5m) Filling depth... cheaply.
Keenan Allen ($5.5m) Basically, the same as this year. Will he retire?

Outside Player I sign (counts against the calculation but gets cancelled out if Pipkins signs somewhere for $10m)

RG Ed Ingram ($12.5m) This is what OTC says Ingram will get. It's 2.5m more than you saved by cutting Mekhi.


All of those moves would give us 50 on the roster and $33m in cap space.
You have realistically 4 out 5 draft picks to compete for 3 spots. After you pay rookies, you have about $27m of space... about what you need.

Andre James, Tito, and Hart walk... you might get a 6th comp pick.
You would have a Super Bowl roster though... and very good depth.

[Bolt4Knob]

So this is only an exercise... If you hate reading, then skip this post.

The strategy: (1) Re-build of the IOL (2) Retain most of the 2026 free agents (3) Sign very few outside free agents (in hopes of getting comp picks)

The means: I will use OTC's 2026 Salary Cap Calculator tool. I will use OTC's Valuation tool to estimate players values.


Players I cut: RG Mekhi Becton (cap savings of $10m). Also cut Marlow Wax, Jordan Oladokun, Savion Washington, and Josh Fuga because I don't think they make the 53-man roster.

Players I re-sign (don't count against the comp calculation):

Khalil Mack ($18m) He's so valuable. Re-sign @this year's salary. -- I don't think it will cost this much --
Teair Tart ($8m) This is about what Poona Ford got from the Rams. Tart is playing just as well. His cap hit won't be this much but I bring him back
Da'Shawn Hand ($4m) A pay raise for his good production. - for sure bring him back
Naquan Jones ($2m) A slight pay raise.
Odafe Oweh ($10m) This is his approximate salary this year. Edge rushers cost money even with modest production. - cap hit of $10m makes sense
Denzel Perryman ($2.5m) Slight increase. We are a better run defense with him. Insurance against another Colson injury. - Nope,. Too injury prone
Benjamin St Juste ($3.5m) Modest pay increase. -ehh
Deane Leonard ($2m) Depth @CB. He looked good as a gunner. - this seems right
Tony Jefferson ($1.5m) Old... but still effective. Cheap depth.
Josh Harris ($1.5m) Old... effective. Cheap. - if he wants to come back
Trevor Penning ($3m) Still young. Tackle/guard versatile. Depth @OT. I need to see him play
Zion Johnson ($7m) OTC has his value @nearly $11m... I wouldn't pay $11m.
Jamaree Salyer ($1.5) Tackle/guard versatility. He might want more... or a chance @starting. We might want better @OG depth.
Najee Harris ($2.5m) We certainly didn't get our ROI... maybe he feels bad. Coming off injury, $2.5m feels fair. - Nope Vidal and Hampton are enough
Kimani Vidal ($1m) He an ERFA. Cheap. Starting to develop nicely.
Trey Lance ($3m) He may want more... or a chance to start. - this is fine
Tucker Fisk ($1.5m) A RFA. Starting to develop. -for the vet minimum
Tyler Conklin ($1.5m) Filling depth... cheaply. -- they can find better
Keenan Allen ($5.5m) Basically, the same as this year. Will he retire? - this number makes sense

Outside Player I sign (counts against the calculation but gets cancelled out if Pipkins signs somewhere for $10m)

RG Ed Ingram ($12.5m) This is what OTC says Ingram will get. It's 2.5m more than you saved by cutting Mekhi.


All of those moves would give us 50 on the roster and $33m in cap space.
You have realistically 4 out 5 draft picks to compete for 3 spots. After you pay rookies, you have about $27m of space... about what you need.

Andre James, Tito, and Hart walk... you might get a 6th comp pick.
You would have a Super Bowl roster though... and very good depth.

James won't get you a comp pick
Tito might


I am not concerned with comp picks more than building the right roster. Chargers have a lot of cap space. I don't need to pay most of the above first - thats just taking up cap space
I want to upgrade the roster. So if that means passing on a 2027 6th or 7th rounder to win in 2026 - -Hortiz will do that. After you get through free agency - you can than pick and choose a few veteran minimum types. Than the draft to see what you have. Finally, one last look around the veteran market.. But no way am I signing 25 players like you have listed BEFORE real free agency in March.

Comp picks as a strategy can be useful. But I think the Chargers are probably a year away from having free agents other teams will truly want

[Bolt4Knob]

Deculus did have his usual worst grade on the offence though. i think 36 or something. Penning, Hart, Salyer seem better to me

Can they try Bobby Hart at LT.
Or Pipkins at LT and Hart at RT

Why do we need to see Austin Deculus anymore?

[richpjr]