Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[CanadianBoltFan]

First of all, it's ridiculous to put Hortiz on the hot seat after two playoff seasons. Secondly, CBF said you didn't say it.

Just stop

No one here suggests Joe Hortiz should be on any hot seat.

Everyone is happy with Hortiz's overall body of work. Some of us have pointed out the fact that offensive line has been his one area of failure in the first 2 years of his tenure because it is simply the truth. Offensive line play was a weakness in 2024 and was the reason the Chargers got shit kicked in their one playoff game, In 2025 the Chargers are 32nd in pass blocking and run blocking. This is not open for debate. This is factual

[DerwinBosa]

Just stop

No one here suggests Joe Hortiz should be on any hot seat.

Once again!

Lol. You two are unbelievable.

Joe should have known he needed to take more than one swing in two years. It’s prove it time in 2026, I’d fire him if he takes a third strike, cuz there is no other point to Jim’s spear

[CanadianBoltFan]

We could have drafted Donovan Jackson over Omarion Hampton. We didn't do it because Joe drafted what is likely a better overall player in Hampton. Ratledge is so good at right guard that the Lions are considering moving him to center. Doesn't that sound like a Zion Johnson situation to you? Regardless, Joe and Jim were very high on Tre' Harris. We drafted Jamaree Caldwell in the third round, another player who looks like he's going to be very good for us. Wyatt Milum has played 84 snaps all year for the Jaguars. Caldwell has been much more of a contributor for us, and if we hadn't drafted him we would be very thin at defensive tackle, a position we may take early in the draft next April. Drew Kendall has played 25 snaps for the Eagles, who haven't been running the ball nearly as well as they did last year while playing a bunch of backups.

These are the "improvements" that would have gotten us farther in the playoffs? OK, yeah.

I've already mentioned that the Chiefs wouldn't have traded Joe Thuney to us, and that Drew Dalman isn't a good fit for us, nor is he a good pass-blocker. Jonah Jackson is also not a good pass-blocker. Caleb Williams covers up Dalman's and Jackson's weaknesses with the way he runs around and avoids sacks most quarterbacks would be taken down with.

Caleb Williams is the poster boy for a QB holding onto the ball too long (not Herbert as some here like to claim) In fact Caleb is holding into the ball even longer this year than last at 3.27 seconds. Herbert would dream of that time to throw. A QB like Caleb who is in his early stages of reading defenses and holds onto the ball a lot is actually challenging for his blockers.

Drew Dalman was voted to the Pro Bowl this year. That is how "weak" he was this year

[dmac_bolt]

First of all, it's ridiculous to put Hortiz on the hot seat after two playoff seasons. Secondly, CBF said you didn't say it.

But I said after 3 ...

I admit that I did. still.

[DerwinBosa]

Offensive line play was a weakness in 2024 and was the reason the Chargers got shit kicked in their one playoff game, In 2025 the Chargers are 32nd in pass blocking and run blocking. This is not open for debate. This is factual

Once again, nobody is denying that the interior offensive line is a weakness. What you and others fail to acknowledge is the solutions YOU suggested SUCKED, and would have made us worse heading into 2026. Hortiz's decisions to not sign or draft certain interior offensive linemen doesn't make us better there in 2025, but it puts us in a better cap situation for 2026 and beyond. I'd rather have that than interior linemen who shouldn't be on team taking up cap room in 2026 and beyond.

[gzubeck]

Sorry folks, I'm in the encampment that Hortiz has done a fine job and that he's not the problem. 1) Part of the problem is that we lost a lot of talent on the oline. 2) Because of that loss we had to push back-up players into starting roles which could have been support for our entire oline. 3) It created a chain reaction that we've been dealing with all season. Sure he could have added depth which he has tried at every opportunity. Next season he can draft select players and WHIP OUT THE CHECKBOOK!

[DerwinBosa]

Caleb Williams is the poster boy for a QB holding onto the ball too long (not Herbert as some here like to claim) In fact Caleb is holding into the ball even longer this year than last at 3.27 seconds. Herbert would dream of that time to throw. A QB like Caleb who is in his early stages of reading defenses and holds onto the ball a lot is actually challenging for his blockers.

Drew Dalman was voted to the Pro Bowl this year. That is how "weak" he was this year

He's a good run-blocker, which is why he's in the Pro Bowl. He's ranked 34th among centers as a pass-blocker by PFF, the site you like to cite. Regardless, he doesn't fit with us. Was never an option.

I guess you don't watch many Bears games. Caleb has to hold onto the ball because he's running around. I agree he could read defenses better, but he has improved in his second year while learning under Ben Johnson. It's been reported that he was a major problem with the previous coaching staff, so maybe he has matured.

[dmac_bolt]

Why would you even say IF I think the offensive line sucked only because of the offensive tackles when I have stated repeatedly that I wasn't satisfied with the interior offensive line but understand why it is where it's at because of the shitty free agents and weak draft in that area? It could be because of the following: 1. Your reading comprehension sucks. 2. You're just being a jerk and deliberately misrepresenting what I said. Either way, it's annoying and a constant problem with you that I and others have to deal with.

lol, you are sure sanctimonious. I said IF because I didn't remember, why don't you just start with the possibility I'm actually honest. your presumption that I deliberately represented anything in that post is incorrect. I was happy to correct it in the followup post. you've skipped over the more relevant part of our dialog: You are 100% wrong that there was no way Hortiz could have improved the IOL. Other teams did. Joe skipped on multiple FAs and multiple available draft picks.

this is just a forum. Life is full of things everyone deals with, there are several here who find themselves in the awkward situation of having to deal with your outbursts today. Me among them. I didnt even mean to antagonize you - I just disagree that there was no way to improve the IOL. Joe made some bets and they missed, period. He made some IOL bets his first year, they missed too. He can't miss in year 3.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Once again!

Lol. You two are unbelievable.

Well it is prove it time in year 3 with the offensive line. 3 years is plenty of time to get it right. Because this year the o line was not just bad, it was historically bad. Herbert has been subjected to one of the highest pressure rates in NFL history.

The hits and abuse Justin Hebert has taken this year is completely and totally unacceptable. It is embarrassing for a franchise. This is how you get Andrew Luck and Joe Burrow situations.

And it needs to be recognized, that the 11 wins, and this season, would look a whole lot different if Justin Herbert wasnt one of the strongest and toughest QBs who has played the game. Not just by staying on the field though injuries and pain, but by making plays to win games with defenders draped all over him

[DerwinBosa]

You are 100% wrong that there was no way Hortiz could have improved the IOL. Other teams did. Joe skipped on multiple FAs and multiple available draft picks.

No, I'm not. You said he could have improved the offensive line with draft picks who have hardly played this year. Lol. You're also assuming that someone like Drew Dalman would come in at center and make a serious threat to win the Super Bowl. That is highly unlikely. What is more likely is we would be a serious Super Bowl contender right now if Joe Alt and and Rashawn Slater were playing.

why don't you just start with the possibility I'm actually honest.

I can't, because you're not.

Life is full of things everyone deals with, there are several here who find themselves in the awkward situation of having to deal with your outbursts today. Me among them.

Nothing in comparison to your tantrums over Justin Herbert. Those pop up much more than what you're dealing with today.

[dmac_bolt]

We could have drafted Donovan Jackson over Omarion Hampton. We didn't do it because Joe drafted what is likely a better overall player in Hampton. Ratledge is so good at right guard that the Lions are considering moving him to center. Doesn't that sound like a Zion Johnson situation to you? Regardless, Joe and Jim were very high on Tre' Harris. We drafted Jamaree Caldwell in the third round, another player who looks like he's going to be very good for us. Wyatt Milum has played 84 snaps all year for the Jaguars. Caldwell has been much more of a contributor for us, and if we hadn't drafted him we would be very thin at defensive tackle, a position we may take early in the draft next April. Drew Kendall has played 25 snaps for the Eagles, who haven't been running the ball nearly as well as they did last year while playing a bunch of backups.

These are the "improvements" that would have gotten us farther in the playoffs? OK, yeah.

I've already mentioned that the Chiefs wouldn't have traded Joe Thuney to us, and that Drew Dalman isn't a good fit for us, nor is he a good pass-blocker. Jonah Jackson is also not a good pass-blocker. Caleb Williams covers up Dalman's and Jackson's weaknesses with the way he runs around and avoids sacks most quarterbacks would be taken down with.

Jackson and Ratledge are both better than 2/3 of our starting IOL. Zion is our best IOL player so I'd welcome a second Zion over Bozeman, Becton, Penning, and everyone else Joe assembled on the roster. I'd argue Milum is also better than them and Bozeman would have had zero snaps on the Jag roster. you don't have to agree with me.

I said I like Hampton, Harris and Caldwell. I think IOL was a higher priority for 2025 than any of them after watching 16 of the 17 games. you don't have to agree to that either.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Once again, nobody is denying that the interior offensive line is a weakness. What you and others fail to acknowledge is the solutions YOU suggested SUCKED, and would have made us worse heading into 2026. Hortiz's decisions to not sign or draft certain interior offensive linemen doesn't make us better there in 2025, but it puts us in a better cap situation for 2026 and beyond. I'd rather have that than interior linemen who shouldn't be on team taking up cap room in 2026 and beyond.

As DMac said , we are posters and Charger fans. We are not employed and paid to make the right moves. Joe Hortiz is. And the moves Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh for 18 million have made on the offensive line have SUCKED....and that is what really matters.

It doesnt matter how cheap Deculus is if he gets your 50 million dollar QB injured does it?