Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Would you move to Baltimore? Please! It sucks there.

Khalil lives in Corona del Mar. I suspect he'd like to keep it that way.

[Bolt4Knob]

To me, the thing is that we want a rotation. And that means that some players aren't going to be able to pad their stats, and it hurts their earning potential some for their next deal, although I don't think that factors in as much as some people think.

Plus, when players sign with the Chargers, the intent is for players to be able to see the end of their deals. These teams with all the voidable years and backloaded deals, they can play the game for a while. But at some point, they are going to get to the end of their run, and then they will have to pay the piper. That is probably going to happen when they lose their QB (to age or whatever). You aren't going to win a SB without one, so slash and burn and fix your cap space.

The Chargers haven't done that. We try and reload. And when you consider how quickly that Hortiz and Harbaugh were able to reload after Staley and TT, I think it points to a pretty good strategy. It may not be as pleasing to the owners and some parts of the fan base, but it is sustainable.

I am fine with the strategy - -I understand it from a cap perspective. And that includes the Spanos family maybe not being as financially liquid as others.
But Hortiz also might have to stretch this year for the Oline - he can't bleep that up again

Now on defense, I agree - the sum of the team is greater than one part. It is a working unit. I am good with Mack and Oweh coming back, priced properly, because I think the three players work well together. I don't think you can sign Oweh back and bring in a Chaisson and expect the same results as Chaisson is closer to Oweh than Mack. Mack does the dirty work , sets the Edge, all that stuff. I mean, if I know that, and other posters know that I am sure Hortiz, Harbaugh and 'Leary know that

Hence, signing somebody like, for lack of a better name, Cam Jordan, might work better with a Boye Mafe or Jaelen Phillips as opposed to two twitchy, bender, athletic types. I am not worried about Edge - I think Hortiz will figure that out. Its IOL

[Bolt4Knob]

Khalil lives in Corona del Mar. I suspect he'd like to keep it that way.

Its also not for life - its for football season - six months.

[Boltnut]

The number 1 consideration @edge should be a long-term extension for Tuli. Other plans should take that into consideration.
Re-signing Mack should be a short-term, yet fair-market value, 1-year signing. IMO, fair-value signing should be 16-17 million.
A contract that comes off the books in 2027... when Tuli's $25m contract starts.

Whether you sign Mack for this season or not... they will need to plan for his eventual retirement. I hope they draft a high-end edge player in this draft. Preferably in the 1st or 2nd round. A first round would include the 5th-year option... maybe the best plan. I like TJ Parker and Akheem Mesidor.

If Oweh is asking for more than $20m... then I believe that it's best to move on and collect that compensation pick (probably a 3rd rounder). Exchanging this year's 5th rounder for next year's extra 3rd rounder seems like a smart move.

All of these moves give the Chargers an extra season to see what Kennard develops into. Roll into 2007 with Tuli, Mack, Kennard and a 1st round draft pick @edge. Most importantly, we have the cap space to do this... and still pick up high-quality free agent guard and center. Whole team build philosophy.

[Bolt4Knob]

The number 1 consideration @edge should be a long-term extension for Tuli. Other plans should take that into consideration.
Re-signing Mack should be a short-term, yet fair-market value, 1-year signing. IMO, fair-value signing should be 16-17 million.
A contract that comes off the books in 2027... when Tuli's $25m contract starts.

Whether you sign Mack for this season or not... they will need to plan for his eventual retirement. I hope they draft a high-end edge player in this draft. Preferably in the 1st or 2nd round. A first round would include the 5th-year option... maybe the best plan. I like TJ Parker and Akheem Mesidor.

If Oweh is asking for more than $20m... then I believe that it's best to move on and collect that compensation pick (probably a 3rd rounder). Exchanging this year's 5th rounder for next year's extra 3rd rounder seems like a smart move.

All of these moves give the Chargers an extra season to see what Kennard develops into. Roll into 2007 with Tuli, Mack, Kennard and a 1st round draft pick @edge. Most importantly, we have the cap space to do this... and still pick up high-quality free agent guard and center. Whole team build philosophy.

Even if Tuli was extended, Mack signed for one year and Oweh brought back - Edge was a need in this draft. Mack was getting older and this defense works best with three rushers.

As for the comp picks with Oweh &/or Zion -- I think especially for Oweh, if Mack isn't back, not sure they will get a comp pick for Oweh. Not saying Hortiz can't do it - but there is a likelihood that if Zion and Oweh are not back, Hortiz can easily sign two players to offset them. So when I see automatic comp picks for Zion and Oweh, I am not there yet. So if Oweh isn't back but Boye Mafe is signed, I will give up the comp pick. If Zion isn't back but McGovern, Edwards or Linderbaum is signed, I will give up the comp pick

[Boltnut]

My preferred roster build includes:

@edge: Tuli, Mack, Mesidor, Kennard, Dupree
@OL: Rashawn Slater, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, Brian Parker, Joe Alt

The cap works... even allows for "lesser" free agent signings @back-up OL, IDL, and DB... quality (better than we currently have) at these positions.

[Bolt4Knob]

My preferred roster build includes:

@edge: Tuli, Mack, Mesidor, Kennard, Dupree
@OL: Rashawn Slater, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, Brian Parker, Joe Alt

The cap works... even allows for "lesser" free agent signings @back-up OL, IDL, and DB... quality (better than we currently have) at these positions.

just one small change - I just think Dupree is done
upgrade from Dupree -- Cam Jordan even

that said - -if the above is the actual result -- sign me the hell up!!

[dmac_bolt]

So one rumor is that the Chargers will solve IOL with UFAs, let Oweh, Khalil walk and draft EDGE, in an EDGE loaded draft. Of course part of this is having a good idea how much Owrh, Mack are gonna ask for.

If we sign Linderbaum at $25mil/year, how will this play out. Would he and/or the Chargers really want to go to work with meh guards ? As in, there is no way the Chargers are gonna want to move forward with big price tags now, and soon with Alt, at all five starting positions.

I would bet two chimichangas that Joe would not go $25M for a Center. he has his number for positions lol.

[dmac_bolt]

The guys I'm cutting are guys that are signed as 1-year players... making $885,000... with no cap hit for cutting them... and cutting them after training camp. They count against the cap right now. But they are guys that are futures picks. They may, or may not, make the practice squad.

Guys like: TeRah Edwards, Luke Grimm, Peter Bowden, Tanner McLachlan... guys you've never heard of. Inconsequential.
Trust me... this is nothing to get worked up over. Not even sure why I mentioned them.

My understanding was that Team cap calculation automatically assumes 51 players and if you’re short of 51, it just adds league min $$ for each vacant spot to what you do have. Cap only includes top 51 $players so when roster expands to 80 or 90 or whatever you can have as many $885k guys as you have slots for with no team cap effect

i’m not worked up lol

[wu-dai clan]

I would bet two chimichangas that Joe would not go $25M for a Center. he has his number for positions lol.

I will throw in a rolled taco and two flautas snd even a torta de jamon...

[Bolt4Knob]

I have no idea what price Hortiz will pay for Linderbaum and yes, $25m seems like a bar he won't cross. But market dynamics and availability of talent also might play a part

I mean, you can pay 8m for Luke Fortner or 12m for another OC - but Hortiz has to nail this off-season with respect to the IOL.

Ask Colts fans if they are happy that Chris Ballard was less aggressive in free agency, waiting for the first wave, be patient and get the cheaper players, more cap friendly contracts - but the results are the results. No cap problems but the Colts haven't consistently won playoff games. Which is the damn goal -

Sometimes you can't be afraid to say "F**k those picks" like the Rams and don't be afraid to win. It sounds good to be pragmatic but do the W's follow. Now there is a big gap between Bozeman and Linderbaum both in terms of salary cap and ability -- but Hortiz has to friggin nail it. And if he goes the Luke Fortner route and it sucks, we fans will see it

[Chargers8491]

My preferred roster build includes:

@edge: Tuli, Mack, Mesidor, Kennard, Dupree
@OL: Rashawn Slater, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, Brian Parker, Joe Alt

The cap works... even allows for "lesser" free agent signings @back-up OL, IDL, and DB... quality (better than we currently have) at these positions.

Cut Dupree and add another FA or draft pick. Derrick Moore, Dennis-Sutton, Malachi Lawerence. Any of those guys would also work. Go young and let them grow together.