Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[Bolt4Knob]

Would you give up a 4th rounder to get Deebo? CBS thinks that's all it would take.

Granted, we'd only get him for one year and would need to extend his contract if we wanted him longer than that. TBH, though, I'd consider it. Then again, not sure if Roman could scheme for his skill set.

No, because he is not a good fit next to Ladd and QJ. QJ can only dream of being Deebo at this point but the skillset is not what the Chargers need. Plus, a 4th is too much to give up for him.
I think Kupp makes more sense that Deebo or Allen or Cooper, Need to find the WR that complements Ladd McConkey and allows QJ to be best used more as the YAC, crossing pattern player

[Jack Burton]

This is my early working free agency build for 2025:

1) Drew Dalman C: 3yr/20mil - Avg: 6.8mil/yr
2) D.J. Reed CB: 4yr/58mil - Avg: 14mil/yr
3) Milton Williams DT: 3yr/36mil - Avg: 12mil/yr
4) Josh Sweat ED: 3yr/56mil - Avg: 18mil/yr
5) Poona Ford DE: 1yr/6mil - Avg: 6mil/yr
6) Teair Tart DT: 1yr/5mil - Avg: 5mil/yr
7) Mekhi Becton OG: 4yr/40mil - Avg: 10mil/yr
8) Kristian Fulton CB: 2yr/6mil - Avg: 3mil/yr
9) Bradley Bozeman OC: 2yr/8mil - Avg: 4mil/yr
10) Elijah Molden CB: 3yr/18mil - Avg: 6mil/yr
11) JK Dobbins RB: 2yr/8mil - Avg: 4mil/yr

Total: $88 mil

This is a work in progress. I haven't added Slater re-signing. Not sure if I'm going to add Mack or find another DE. Also, working on WR as well. I may drop Fulton to add a S. This is something I'm going to play with during the down time until free agency starts. Feel free to add your input and see what we come up with. Cheers!

So if they did your above FA, then…

DRAFT
22 RB OMARION HAMPTON NC
55 WR ELIC AYAMANOR STANFORD
86 WR JAYDEN HIGGINS OHIO ST
124 TE TERRANCE FERGUSON OREGON
159 EDGE JAH JOYNER MINNESOTA
177 G JACKSON SLATER SACRAMENTO STATE
183 TE MOLIKI MATAVAO UCLA
201 LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN CAL
215 QB GRAYSON MCCALL NC STATE
220 OT JACK NELSON WISCONSIN
253 DT TONKA HEMINGWAY SOUTH CAROLINA

[Fouts2herbert]

Here you go with names. But names don't matter. Its more allocating dollars to positions. For instance, if you don't sign an Adams, probably not spending $14m on WR, unless its Godwin. Allen, Kupp, Williams, Slayton, Brown, all in that $10m or less. At TE, whether its Gesicki or Conklin, not the point. More that the team needs a 3rd TE behind Dissly and draft pick. BackUp QB, really not sure - just know the cap hit will be $3 to 5m for the right backup.. Right Guard, Becton on a long term deal will be higher than say Zeitler on a one year deal. Scherff or Zeitler probably looking at $6-7m. Center could be Bozeman but he won't be $6m - but they would need to draft one.


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5 potentially 6 qualified free agents? I don't think that's going to happen...the Chargers are not going to outbid other teams for qualified free agents, that's not the school that Hortiz comes from...I keep seeing these lists and it's almost like the Chargers are going to get all the guys out there that have any perceived value and the rest of the league is just going to do what? it's a bad free agent class to begin with but throwing money at these guys to get them all to come to LA is just not going to be the way that Hortiz does business...

I'd pick one MAYBE two qualified FA that you feel Hortiz will make a high priority, then look at who's getting cut in cap saving moves, then come up with some names that should still be on the street after the draft...that's the most likely thing that's going to happen...

[Chargers8491]

This is kind of what I came up with messing with some numbers yesterday - these are cap hits so not AAV. Also this is based on Bosa and Pipkins being released. This leaves Hortiz with about $6-7m of cap space post signing draft picks, allocating for the practice squad and in-season funds needed. If they extend Slater and release Edwards - number probably doubles

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So interestingly I was messing around on Spotrac with managing the Chargers roster and cap for 2025. I cut Bosa, Pip, and Gus. I re-signed Slater and then add FA's using the market value of the player. After the cuts and resigning Slater I was at 110 mil cap space. I will post them below with just the 2025 cap hit (1st yr).

Higgins WR- 10 mil
Slater OT- 9 mil
Sweat ED- 8 mil
Young ED- 7.6 mil
Smith OG- 7.2 mil
Reed CB- 7.1 mil
Bolton LB- 4.9 mil
Williams DT- 4.8 mil
Becton- OG- 4.2 mil
Holland S- 3.8 mil
Ford DT- 3.8 mil
Molden CB- 3.5 mil
Dalman OC- 3.1 mil
Fox DT- 3 mil
Tart DT- 2.9 mil
Dobbins RB- 2.6 mil
Fulton CB- 2.5 mil
Bozeman OC- 2.3 mil
Dye LB- 1.7 mil
Niemann LB- 1.1 mil
Jefferson S- 1.1 mil

Before people lose their shit and say well there is no way they are going to sign all these free agents this was done in fun. When I was done, I still had 34 mil left in cap space for free agent and other late season signings. Again, I used the market value feature so some may be more and some may be less.

[wu-dai clan]

One of my favorite tricks is to wait.

Positions that are deep in the draft inevitably lead to vets at these positions getting cut later.

You know how those Olympic divers barely leave a splash in the water ?

Well.
Bargains are us.
One year deals.
Comp picks.
Rinse.
Repeat.

[Bolt4Knob]

5 potentially 6 qualified free agents? I don't think that's going to happen...the Chargers are not going to outbid other teams for qualified free agents, that's not the school that Hortiz comes from...I keep seeing these lists and it's almost like the Chargers are going to get all the guys out there that have any perceived value and the rest of the league is just going to do what? it's a bad free agent class to begin with but throwing money at these guys to get them all to come to LA is just not going to be the way that Hortiz does business...

I'd pick one MAYBE two qualified FA that you feel Hortiz will make a high priority, then look at who's getting cut in cap saving moves, then come up with some names that should still be on the street after the draft...that's the most likely thing that's going to happen...

First, a lot of the players do not even qualify for comp picks. Players like Gesicki or Conklin, back up QB - probably won't make enough to really count as "qualified" free agents

Second, I don't care about comp picks -- the goal should be to beat the Chiefs and Eagles. And on my list, truly only three players would qualify: Becton, Kelly and either Sweat or Odeybingo

I am good seeing who is released and if there are quality players like Adams who are released, thats fine. But if you can get a better player - -and it works within the cap - prefer the talent.

[Fouts2herbert]

So interestingly I was messing around on Spotrac with managing the Chargers roster and cap for 2025. I cut Bosa, Pip, and Gus. I re-signed Slater and then add FA's using the market value of the player. After the cuts and resigning Slater I was at 110 mil cap space. I will post them below with just the 2025 cap hit (1st yr).

Higgins WR- 10 mil
Slater OT- 9 mil
Sweat ED- 8 mil
Young ED- 7.6 mil
Smith OG- 7.2 mil
Reed CB- 7.1 mil
Bolton LB- 4.9 mil
Williams DT- 4.8 mil
Becton- OG- 4.2 mil
Holland S- 3.8 mil
Ford DT- 3.8 mil
Molden CB- 3.5 mil
Dalman OC- 3.1 mil
Fox DT- 3 mil
Tart DT- 2.9 mil
Dobbins RB- 2.6 mil
Fulton CB- 2.5 mil
Bozeman OC- 2.3 mil
Dye LB- 1.7 mil
Niemann LB- 1.1 mil
Jefferson S- 1.1 mil

Before people lose their shit and say well there is no way they are going to sign all these free agents this was done in fun. When I was done, I still had 34 mil left in cap space for free agent and other late season signings. Again, I used the market value feature so some may be more and some may be less.

We saw someone actually do this in real life and it didn't pan out very well, 2021 offseason Bill Belichick signed everyone because he came to the realization that he sucked major ass without Tom Brady and that his drafting was comically stupid too...

I think Joe Hortiz has more confidence in his drafts than BB did...

[Boltjolt]

5 potentially 6 qualified free agents? I don't think that's going to happen...the Chargers are not going to outbid other teams for qualified free agents, that's not the school that Hortiz comes from...I keep seeing these lists and it's almost like the Chargers are going to get all the guys out there that have any perceived value and the rest of the league is just going to do what? it's a bad free agent class to begin with but throwing money at these guys to get them all to come to LA is just not going to be the way that Hortiz does business...

I'd pick one MAYBE two qualified FA that you feel Hortiz will make a high priority, then look at who's getting cut in cap saving moves, then come up with some names that should still be on the street after the draft...that's the most likely thing that's going to happen...

Three tops imo qualified FAs. Perhaps two OL and an Edge. Tops.... Now if Adams is released of course he won't count.

People are dreaming a bit here on FAs or perhaps just still aren't sure of Hortiz style......which I get as I'm not sure either but I doubt we are going to sign Milton and Sweat, Higgins and Reed.

I'm still going to assume he will take the more Baltimore approach til he shows he won't.

[Fouts2herbert]

First, a lot of the players do not even qualify for comp picks. Players like Gesicki or Conklin, back up QB - probably won't make enough to really count as "qualified" free agents

Second, I don't care about comp picks -- the goal should be to beat the Chiefs and Eagles. And on my list, truly only three players would qualify: Becton, Kelly and either Sweat or Odeybingo

I am good seeing who is released and if there are quality players like Adams who are released, thats fine. But if you can get a better player - -and it works within the cap - prefer the talent.

It's irrelevant whether or not you or I care or don't care about comp picks, I'm just pointing out what the most likely process is going to be from now on under this new FO...

Joe Hortiz came from the Raven system, they play the comp game every year and they do it for a multitude of reasons that don't just involve getting day three comps...it's about getting value...it's a system that takes advantage of great coaching and solid drafts to develop those guys in a timely manner so that you can have a roster mostly made up of younger less injury prone guys on rookie contracts mixed in with guys that you decided to extend and sometimes on occasion even bring in the right outside guy...the Ravens know they aren't going to hit on all there picks, so churning the roster is imperative for keeping the talent level high...ask yourself the following question, how many qualified free agents have the Ravens signed in the last 5 years? They let their own people walk every year when most teams would try to hold onto guys on long term deals because they know they already have a cheaper replacement with less mileage in the wings...they typically only keep the most indispensable guys...a side benefit is that the low picks can be used to bring in guys on advantageous trades when other teams are just trying to dump salary...they take a 6th round comp and turn into production on the field and then still turn it into a 4rth round comp in the offseason, I've seen them do this over and over again over the years...

I've been jealously studying the way that the Ravens do business for years, I never imagined we would be lucky enough to have someone from that stable working for us and running our team like that...playing the comp game is not just about the picks although they do add up and can often translate into players too, it's about having a disciplined approach to team building that never stops, that never settles like AJ Smith did, you keep working and keep the roster refurbished and refreshed because you never know which year your guys will break thru and win the big one...it's a disciplined system with long term sustained success in mind...Hortiz working the comp picks year in and year out is going to be an indication that he's staying on course and true to that system...

[Fouts2herbert]

First, a lot of the players do not even qualify for comp picks. Players like Gesicki or Conklin, back up QB - probably won't make enough to really count as "qualified" free agents

Second, I don't care about comp picks -- the goal should be to beat the Chiefs and Eagles. And on my list, truly only three players would qualify: Becton, Kelly and either Sweat or Odeybingo

I am good seeing who is released and if there are quality players like Adams who are released, thats fine. But if you can get a better player - -and it works within the cap - prefer the talent.

last year anyone that signed for more than 3.15mil APY qualified, granted there is a 32 comp pick cut-off...so even if you sign a guy that is past the cut-off it still cancels out one of your losses...I don't know what guys like Conklin or Gesicki will sign for and premiere B/U quarterbacks in the NFL are in the 4.5-6mil APY range right now...that's why I hope we bring back Heinicke and let that 7th rounder spent for him continue to work for us, otherwise Hortiz will turn that 7th round investment into a likely 6th or maybe even a 5th round comp pick in 2026...I'd keep my eyes on late round QBs in this draft, that or Hortiz might pull the same move and send someone else cutting costs another 7th rounder this year for an experienced QB who's already received the bulk of their salary...just like they did with Heinicke...

[Jack Burton]

Three tops imo qualified FAs. Perhaps two OL and an Edge. Tops.... Now if Adams is released of course he won't count.

People are dreaming a bit here on FAs or perhaps just still aren't sure of Hortiz style......which I get as I'm not sure either but I doubt we are going to sign Milton and Sweat, Higgins and Reed.

I'm still going to assume he will take the more Baltimore approach til he shows he won't.

I can see Hortiz getting one, prime top tier difference maker like EDGE Josh Sweat, and 3 vets. WR Adams,
C Kelly and G Daniels. Something like that, to get them into a position with another good draft to be competing for the division.

I don’t see them bringing in 10 or 12 FA’s just cause they’ve got money to burn. I also think they make a concerted effort to get Slater done and keep a lot of the guys they have to resign. It’s a good group.

[Bolt4Knob]

It's irrelevant whether or not you or I care or don't care about comp picks, I'm just pointing out what the most likely process is going to be from now on under this new FO...

Joe Hortiz came from the Raven system, they play the comp game every year and they do it for a multitude of reasons that don't just involve getting day three comps...it's about getting value...it's a system that takes advantage of great coaching and solid drafts to develop those guys in a timely manner so that you can have a roster mostly made up of younger less injury prone guys on rookie contracts mixed in with guys that you decided to extend and sometimes on occasion even bring in the right outside guy...the Ravens know they aren't going to hit on all there picks, so churning the roster is imperative for keeping the talent level high...ask yourself the following question, how many qualified free agents have the Ravens signed in the last 5 years? They let their own people walk every year when most teams would try to hold onto guys on long term deals because they know they already have a cheaper replacement with less mileage in the wings...they typically only keep the most indispensable guys...a side benefit is that the low picks can be used to bring in guys on advantageous trades when other teams are just trying to dump salary...they take a 6th round comp and turn into production on the field and then still turn it into a 4rth round comp in the offseason, I've seen them do this over and over again over the years...

I've been jealously studying the way that the Ravens do business for years, I never imagined we would be lucky enough to have someone from that stable working for us and running our team like that...playing the comp game is not just about the picks although they do add up and can often translate into players too, it's about having a disciplined approach to team building that never stops, that never settles like AJ Smith did, you keep working and keep the roster refurbished and refreshed because you never know which year your guys will break thru and win the big one...it's a disciplined system with long term sustained success in mind...Hortiz working the comp picks year in and year out is going to be an indication that he's staying on course and true to that system...

I guess we shall see

I do agree - the Ravens are built through the draft

But if the Chargers don't spend the salary, wait for released players at bargain basement costs - going to have the same issue next year - $75-80m of cap space. that might look good on OTC but does it help the W-L column