Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[wu-dai clan]

I love Fano, I don't give a shit about his wingspan. I love how he moves while retaining balance and control. He'll get in front of moving defenders that many wide-winged bumblers will never get more than a jersey side-grab of.

Slater has a short wingspan (as far as elite OTs go).

Agreed !! Fano's wingspan will determine whethee tackle needy teams want him or not. If the wingspan is disappointing to them, it increases the likelihood that Fano is available at #22.

With a mere five picks, position flexible prospects have special value. Fano would have starting guard and 4 position capability.

BTW I see that Keldric Faulk (~#22 overall) has the same sort of flexibility profile. He can play 4i and EDGE well. That would sort of replace both Oweh and Hand.

[Chargers8491]

Dead cap hit...... And that's for Philly, not us. Still doubt we are trading.. two high picks for him unless one is this year and one in 2028. ....or one is in 2027.

3rd this year, 1st in 2028. ... When they getting a QB to mentor to prepare for getting rid of Hurts lol.

Is he is the target we will see how creative Hortiz gets.

Yeah, I wouldn't either, but they have a lot of time to work it out. QJ would make sense to be a part of this trade but not sure if I like that idea either.

Hell for all we know they could already have a deal in place and are just waiting till June 1st.

[Chargers8491]

After watching this, I just wonder if that is why they don’t have this huge value on the G position, cause they think with motion and these guys doing what they do, they can give Herbert all kinds of quick, easy button outlets to get rid of the football.

That's what I've been screaming for the last couple months. QB protection is built into the scheme with moving the pocket and quick passes. Look at the highlights and how many outs Tua had with the checkdowns. The offense I think will be fine.

[Boltjolt]

After watching this, I just wonder if that is why they don’t have this huge value on the G position, cause they think with motion and these guys doing what they do, they can give Herbert all kinds of quick, easy button outlets to get rid of the football.

You know, I'm sure they went over the offensive plan and he showed Harbaugh his philosophy, maybe sold him on why they don't need expensive OGs.
Just a guess and at 62 Harbaugh might just need convincing of that.
Probably saw hours of plays on tape talking about it. .....so you could be right.

[dmac_bolt]

That is a bit of an exaggeration on what Popper said in the article. You are reframing his words. Popper said nothing about praying or miracles.

Here is what he did say

"The Chargers announced McDaniel as their new OC on Jan. 27. Seven weeks have passed, and the bulk of free agency is now over. The Chargers have re-signed key players. They have added external free agents. They have let starters walk. They still have roster holes.

The outcome, on balance, can be distilled into one overarching point: The Chargers’ offseason so far has been a big bet on McDaniel.

McDaniel was the splash. His fingerprints are all over this free agency cycle. Based on the moves the Chargers have and have not made, it is clear they are trusting McDaniel to be an elevating force for the offense. The Chargers are banking on his creativity and his schematic genius.

Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have produced back-to-back 11-win regular seasons. They still do not have a playoff victory, and they have not been particularly competitive in their two postseason appearances. While injuries were undoubtedly a factor in 2025, the Chargers lost a very winnable game in New England. McDaniel, in theory, is the piece that will raise the ceiling and achieve the playoff success that has thus far eluded Harbaugh and Hortiz in Los Angeles.

Hiring McDaniel was smart. Trusting him is smart. His track record is worth betting on. At the same time, the Chargers could have bet on McDaniel and been more aggressive in free agency. Those are not mutually exclusive approaches. They had cap space to spend, even with some sizable extensions on the horizon for players like edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, tackle Joe Alt and receiver Ladd McConkey."


Popper is saying that the Chargers major off season bet is Mike McDaniel. That appears to be completely true.

OK, I apologize Daniel.

[DerwinBosa]

Interesting section from Albert Breer's column this past Monday.

Offensive line market

One big-picture observation: The offensive line market did finally seem to cool. It could be due to teams being fearful of where the market took middling tackles Dan Moore Jr. and Jaylon Moore last year. It could be the crop of available players itself. The reality is that only offensive lineman who really knocked it out of the park was Tyler Linderbaum, and the Raiders’ new center was the only O-lineman available who is truly elite at his position.

New Panthers tackle Rasheed Walker, hoping for $20 million per year, wound up taking a fraction of that on a one-year deal. New Patriots guard Alijah Vera-Tucker had $12.75 million of the $42 million on his three-year deal tied up in per-game roster bonuses, designed to protect the team against injury. Bills center Connor McGovern stayed put at a modest $13 million per year, and older vets such as Joel Bitonio and Jawaan Taylor are still on the market.

This isn’t something I saw coming, and I don’t think many teams did, either.

The long-term implications? I’m not sure. Elite linemen will continue to get paid, and those positions remain vital to most great teams. But perhaps some front offices and coaching staffs see a little less separation between the merely good players and those on the fringes.

We’ll see in a year whether this was a blip or perhaps the start of a trend.

[21&500]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/co...are&utm_term=4

[charger1993]

The list of players are players i will crash out over if we draft in the first

Makai Lemon
USC

Jordyn Tyson
Arizona State

Keldric Faulk
Auburn

Denzel Boston
Washington

KC Concepcion
Texas A&M

Zion Young
Missouri

Omar Cooper Jr.
Indiana

[21&500]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chargers/co...are&utm_term=4

Anyone else hoping this teacher has a picture of a young Justin Herbert embracing a young Justin Jefferson?

[Xenos]

I think the GAC guys did the same thing, I don't know if they're afraid to go against their core followers and risk getting unsubbed and disliked...

To be fair to the GAC guys, they’ve been wanting good IOL since the end of 2023. And their fears have come to fruition the last two seasons, with 2025 being the almost nightmare scenario. Once the new season starts and the new OL shows that it can take care of Herbert better, they’ll calm down.

[YAC]

But free agency is over now

Really? Hortiz has a message for you:


itsOver.jpg

The Chargers will sign five more free agents before the season starts, perhaps more. Mostly modest signings--but one or two might shock. BOOK IT.

There still are hundreds of FAs (about 100 meaningful ones) on the market, and that number will get a bump post-draft and again in June.

OK I concede: FA is mostly over. But. Just. You. Wait.

[CanadianBoltFan]

YAC I meant any meaningful signings in FA are pretty well over.

I agree Hortiz will fill out the roster with some cheap signings under 4 million