Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[electricgold]

There are supporters on this board...there is some calm on this board... but looking at a wider scope of fanbase and observers, bewilderment rules the day

I agree fully with Popper because that is what I have been feeling. If the GM didn't learn from last year..if you wont even spend 11-12 million ona starting calibre guard with all that cap,,,,and do it now when they are available ..just what are you going to do later if the draft doesn't go your way??

If last year proved anything is that once the draft is over there are no avenues to add a decent offensive lineman. Last year ...in pre season...the best OL Hortiz could trade for was Austin Deculus. Let that sink in.

This is exactly where the fan base angst is coming from.

And as for Hortiz "having a plan" he had the same plan the last 2 years. Sometimes when your plan doesn't work you need to be a little flexible and change things up.

Yep but Hortiz didn't use the draft other than Alt to address the Oline, this season he probably will! This is the year to do that the draft is full of solid OG's even OT's in the first round!

The funniest thing I saw on X yesterday was a picture of Hortiz as Gollum with Hortiz's face photoshopped on his body clutching a jar of pennies. It was pure comedy! lol

[Bolt4Knob]

[QUOTE=Riverwalk;n2181763]

What happens when they take a quick release away?

Easier said than done but it’s an improvement over the no-quick-release Gro scheme, right?

I simply don’t understand the foaming at Hortiz at this point.

We had 3 IOL positions to fill. RG and Center have been upgraded from Becton Bozeman to Strange Badass.

Hortiz is 1 LG away from fielding the entire starting OL and very likely better at all three positions.

In addition, Penning and Pipkins have been signed as backups. It should t be too hard to pick up an additional FA or draft some more backups and potential starters.

Relax, we are in good shape and haven’t shot our wad on overpriced FA’s.

You are correct. Hortiz has managed the cap and filling needs - which I outlined earlier. But he still has a boat load of money and not too many needs. Even if not an OG - what about a player at another position that can upgrade the roster. And for sure, Edge -need to replace Oweh

[CanadianBoltFan]

Yep but Hortiz didn't use the draft other than Alt to address the Oline, this season he probably will! This is the year to do that the draft is full of solid OG's even OT's in the first round!

The funniest thing I saw on X yesterday was a picture of Hortiz as Gollum with Hortiz's face photoshopped on his body clutching a jar of pennies. It was pure comedy! lol

The draft is an inexact science and most of it you do not control. A lot of things have to fall into place and go your way in order for the right piece to be there for you. By right piece I mean a guard that is ready to step in, start, and play well as a rookie from day one.

I just think a very thorough and detailed GM does not let it come down to this. He has it covered so he can practice what he preaches...BPA

[Boltjolt]

you want us to decline a 3rd round pick for some asshole that's been on 4 different teams in 6 years? good god...apparently 4 sets of coaching staffs didn't agree with your assessment of how good this cat is despite him being a relatively high 3rd round pick, you have no idea as in no fucking clue what is going on with this guy, whether he has worn out his welcome in lorckerrooms due to being a bad teammate or whether he has some kind of chronic issue which could be anything, maybe there is a reason why he hasn't stayed anywhere that you know nothing about...I could understand questioning 1 set of coaches, but 4 sets of coaches in 6 seasons and he was drafted high in the 3rd? yeah something is definitely not right there considering how much demand there is for O-line in the NFL...

I dont really care about a comp pick as much as i do getting a better OL. Pipkins should of been on 3-4 teams as well because we should of cut him before we resigned him to his 2nd contract, let alone this one. Jones PFF grade is 74.3 to Pipkins 47. His run blocking is 70.3 to Pipkins 42.7, his run blocking is 70.3 to Pipkins 58. Now maybe he wasnt good in his previous seasons, that idk since i dont subscribe to PFF but he was a lot better last season than Pipkins

Pipkins was also a 3rd round pick and has showed little. But here is is going into year 7-8 with us? He must be a real jolly good fellow or something. Im not up on comp picks but sure ly more of our guy will be signed and a 5 mil guy shouldnt cancel out a 100 million guy.....when more of ours are signed. Denzel should end up someplace.

[CanadianBoltFan]

[QUOTE=Bolt4Knob;n2181774]

What happens when they take a quick release away?

Easier said than done but it’s an improvement over the no-quick-release Gro scheme, right?

I simply don’t understand the foaming at Hortiz at this point.

We had 3 IOL positions to fill. RG and Center have been upgraded from Becton Bozeman to Strange Badass.

Hortiz is 1 LG away from fielding the entire starting OL and very likely better at all three positions.

In addition, Penning and Pipkins have been signed as backups. It should t be too hard to pick up an additional FA or draft some more backups and potential starters.

Relax, we are in good shape and haven’t shot our wad on overpriced FA’s.

You are correct. Hortiz has managed the cap and filling needs - which I outlined earlier. But he still has a boat load of money and not too many needs. Even if not an OG - what about a player at another position that can upgrade the roster. And for sure, Edge -need to replace Oweh

Automatically claiming that Strange is an upgrade as a starter is pretty charitable. We'll see.

[Whydachargers?]

Paul had a 4.89/40 time. He is fast.

Also - Explosiveness: He also showed strong initial burst with a 1.71-second 10-yard split, ranking in the 86th percentile for interior linemen.

[Jack Burton]

Alt-Slater-Badass-Strange-Blake Miller

O line is dominant. Ok, so Strange is still there but it’s still a monster.

[Riverwalk]

If Ioane, Fano and Proctor are gone a top rookie at another position has slipped. We probably get a top OL though.

Out of the last 5 drafts, 2 drafts had 9 OL selected in first round and 1 draft, last year had 8.

I keep seeing the top 3 OL’s mentioned as being available for us at 22. That’s a pipe dream folks.

IMO, Hortiz would be wise to use the top pick on Edge and get the LG we need in FA.

[Bolt4Knob]

I dont really care about a comp pick as much as i do getting a better OL. Pipkins should of been on 3-4 teams as well because we should of cut him before we resigned him to his 2nd contract, let alone this one. Jones PFF grade is 74.3 to Pipkins 47. His run blocking is 70.3 to Pipkins 42.7, his run blocking is 70.3 to Pipkins 58. Now maybe he wasnt good in his previous seasons, that idk since i dont subscribe to PFF but he was a lot better last season than Pipkins

Pipkins was also a 3rd round pick and has showed little. But here is is going into year 7-8 with us? He must be a real jolly good fellow or something.

In this case, I agree. I would rather pay Jones 6m - or a cap hit of $6m over the less than $4m

the comp pick game works only when two players are comparable in skill and price point
like if Pipkins is a 47 and Jones is a 51 - that is close. 74 to 47 is not close - -sign Jones


Like IDL - I looked at the grades of Hargrave, Robinson, Hand and Jonathan Allen and for PFF, that is the order, best to worst. So if Hand leaves and you sign Hargrave or Robinson and get a comp pick, I am good with that type of move But Pip over Jones, for close money, no way.

[Riverwalk]

[QUOTE=CanadianBoltFan;n2181786]

Automatically claiming that Strange is an upgrade as a starter is pretty charitable. We'll see.

You think Becton is better than Strange?. Okay. We shall see.

[sonorajim]

The quick release offense protected so well it kept the QBs concussion down to about 7 🤩

Good point. Tua did get hurt. Mia OL was lousy as players who got better results. Allegedly. Some questions remain.

I recall GRo's O leaking like a sieve while H could not find an outlet receiver. Less sieve, more receivers seems desirable.
I think we can expect a greater variety of motion, outlets available and runs that aren't telegraphed. But the only proof will be in the coming games.
I'm looking forward to it.

[JOJAX85]

[QUOTE=CanadianBoltFan;n2181786]

Automatically claiming that Strange is an upgrade as a starter is pretty charitable. We'll see.

He's an upgrade just if he's available.