Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[21&500]

Warming up to Adams but I get the sense he's on career coast mode now.
no mention of championships or playing for a contender, just, prioritizing wanting to play "on the west coast".
competitors welcomed.
Fat cats welcomed to apply elsewhere.

[Bolt4Knob]

They will get those spots filled, the question is will they target cap casualty cut guys, qualified free agents at the beginning of of free agency or post draft wave three free agents?

My guess it'll be a combination of all three, so I'm not expecting them to sign 3-4 qualified free agents when free agency kicks off, I expect another 1-2 Dissly type signings as in guys cut by their former teams, then maybe one qualified free agent, the rest will be our own guys being brought back and post draft free agency...

so it might not be as exciting as getting the big name signing but look at what we've gotten from post draft free agency in the last few years VS what we got in big name free agents...

Big name BIG $ guys

Linval Joseph--decent return on investment

Chris Harris--wasted money

Bryan Bulaga--total shitshow

Corey Linsley--great signing, tragic ending

JC Jackson--total shit signing, finally free of the dead cap 3 years later

Post draft bargain $ free agents

Kyle Van Noy--big time hit

Bryce Callahan--big time hit

Poona Ford--big time hit

JK Dobbins--big time hit

Bradley Bozeman--not so good

DJ Chark--not so good

Hayden Hurst--big zero

Bud Dupree--solid contributor

when you look at the returns here, it's not even a doubt what type of free agency makes more sense to pursue...the return on the post draft guys has been way better and with low risk to the cap...I don't expect that Hortiz will stay completely away from high priced qualified free agents, but the Ravens rarely did that...now that the Chargers are relevant again, they will have veteran players waiting to play for a contender, a lot of those players will want to come to LA and they will wait until after the draft to find which of the contending teams makes the most sense for them, the Chargers are in that rotation now, this is why we don't need to pull bullshit panic moves on high priced guys, when the right fit is there I'm sure they'll pull the trigger, the only one I see worth looking into is Trey Smith but there are some concerns there with long term health and if the money gets too stupid less expensive short term deals make more sense because it buys Hortiz time to continue building HIS roster thru the draft...

I understand there are risks signing big money players. But you can sign somebody like Saquon Barkley who fit the Eagles well

Build through the draft - augment in free agency. And sometimes the free agents are cheap - sometimes they aren't

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

"Better than Bowers" isn't the high water mark we're aiming for. Better than Dissly is. There are several draft or FA options that have good hands and can block. There will be an upgraded TE 1 in '25.

I'll compromise, and meet you at "SO much better than Dissly is".

[Bolt4Knob]

Warming up to Adams but I get the sense he's on career coast mode now.
no mention of championships or playing for a contender, just, prioritizing wanting to play "on the west coast".
competitors welcomed.
Fat cats welcomed to apply elsewhere.

He is from the West Coast - probably just wants to play coast to home
Allen just wants to play for LA or Chicago -- does he belong in the same as just wanting to coast

[Charge!]

that reduces number of options....but that does keep chiefs or bills from getting him....lol

[21&500]

He is from the West Coast - probably just wants to play coast to home
Allen just wants to play for LA or Chicago -- does he belong in the same as just wanting to coast

Maybe but I wouldn't get that because he wants to play for either a team he's on or a team he's been on.
Makes sense. He has his own, different red flags.

Adam's also makes sense, but that's a red flag for me.

[Riverwalk]

The good thing about Adams is he kind of controls where he wants to go since the Jets won't pay him the $36m and he probably wouldn't play for them unless they seriously overpaid

With Higgins off the market - he is the best fit next to Ladd

Adams won’t come cheap. 32 and 10 years in the NFL.

NO THANKS. Let’s build a multi year foundation of younger players versus renting expensive fossils.

Let him and Joey sign with SF and waste their money.

[Bolt4Knob]

Adams won’t come cheap. 32 and 10 years in the NFL.

NO THANKS. Let’s build a multi year foundation of younger players versus renting expensive fossils.

Let him and Joey sign with SF and waste their money.

I totally agree with you about his age and cost. As well as building for the future. But with Higgins off the market - seriously - other than drafting a WR which I would be fine with - who is the best option out there?

For me, its Adams to pair with Ladd. Allen is duplicative, I think Deebo is more a run and catch guy, Godwin would be a solid choice; Diggs is older; Cooper - don't think so. Kupp

So of the options currently out there - he is the best one in terms of how he fits next to Ladd.

Now if Hortiz chooses to use the draft and signs a less WR like Slayton or Brown - no objections either. I also think they could sign Adams short term, and they have the cash and draft a replacement for a year or two.

Same thing with RG and Center - could be bridge players - though would prefer players here for 3-4 years like you mention

[Fouts2herbert]

I understand there are risks signing big money players. But you can sign somebody like Saquon Barkley who fit the Eagles well

Build through the draft - augment in free agency. And sometimes the free agents are cheap - sometimes they aren't

unfortunately we didn't have the money to spend last year, last year's free agent class was nice, there were some really nice players available at DT, Edge, RB, IOL, on and on, guys like Christian Wilkins, Josh Jacobs, Sequon Barkley's or King Henry, not all free agent classes are created equal...this is a shit free agent class compared to last year's IMO...

The JC Jackson signing should be a cautionary thing for all of us, not only did it potentially cost us Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but it also robbed us of any chance to compete for some of the better free agents that were available last offseason...

I'm not for spending big in this free agent class, grab a couple cap casualty guys, maybe one qualified free agent, then lean heavily on the draft and post draft free agents...

[Charge!]

Adams won’t come cheap. 32 and 10 years in the NFL.

NO THANKS. Let’s build a multi year foundation of younger players versus renting expensive fossils.

Let him and Joey sign with SF and waste their money.

I do not believe Hortiz will spend big money on any WR (medium money, yes, but not big money) and I've heard this from experts who have worked with him..... BUT he IS willing to spend big money on QB, OL, DL/pass rushers, LB, CB

[Riverwalk]

I totally agree with you about his age and cost. As well as building for the future. But with Higgins off the market - seriously - other than drafting a WR which I would be fine with - who is the best option out there?

For me, its Adams to pair with Ladd. Allen is duplicative, I think Deebo is more a run and catch guy, Godwin would be a solid choice; Diggs is older; Cooper - don't think so. Kupp

So of the options currently out there - he is the best one in terms of how he fits next to Ladd.

Now if Hortiz chooses to use the draft and signs a less WR like Slayton or Brown - no objections either. I also think they could sign Adams short term, and they have the cash and draft a replacement for a year or two.

Same thing with RG and Center - could be bridge players - though would prefer players here for 3-4 years like you mention

You make good points but now that Higgins is unavailable I would rather they use the FA big bucks on other positions like trenches.

Perhaps a solid journeyman FA WR versus a costly one like Adam’s.

I’m hoping Hortiz can work magic in the draft on TE and WR like he did last year with Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still in the 5th round.

If we can get Loveland in first round I think you’ve got receiver #1 and #2 covered along with Ladd. So you’ve got the entire draft to find another WR to eclipse QJ.

That doesn’t sound too difficult and a big improvement over 2024 season.

[Boltjolt]

I absolutely love that idea. His upside and athleticism are really good. Wherever he goes, he’s going to play in the NFL.

Didnt some say this about Dulcich who Denver cut? I dont think he got picked up either but dont know. He was a 3rd round pick. Much of that was he was injured all the time as well.