Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[Chargers8491]

I didn't think Higgins was on the menu when he was scheduled to become a free agent but now that it would take massive draft capital and massive salary, how can anyone be for this with all the needs that this team has across the board? we are not one player away from the Super Bowl, if this team was already better and wasn't a pro TE offense, then I might consider this scenario, otherwise none of the Higgins stuff makes sense...

Yeah, if he does get tagged I wouldn't touch him. The cost will be too much in draft capital.

[Chargers8491]

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.

Since there are rumors Higgins will be franchise tagged, if you removed him the Chargers would have 44 mil left in cap space for 2025. You could add whatever WR you want.

[Chargers8491]

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

I like it. Maybe take a TE in rd 2 and another WR in rnd 4. Depending on who is available in the 2nd.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Note that MINN also gets RB Treveyon Henderson 2 picks later. Canadian bolt here saying he’s Jamari Gibbs clone. I went back and rewatched his stuff and he’s right. I don’t think Treveyon is making it past pick 40 in this draft.

Not a Gibbs clone. I think Gibbs is a shiftier runner but Henderson is an explosive runner that will add to an offense ina similar way. He would bring a great receiver to our backfield and is the best RB at pass pro in this draft.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Between those two Fannin might have an outside chance to start but I don't think Taylor would start for the Chargers because I'm reading that he doesn't block...we know Fannin is a passable blocker but at 6' 3" 230 pounds he's a tad undersized for the Roman offense. if the coaches feel that they can get Taylor and develop his blocking game then I'd have to trust that they have reasons to believe that...

Some are saying there could be 4 TEs going in the first round now...adding Taylor and Arroyo to Loveland and Warren. Not sure about that but fairly certain top 45-50.

[Topcat]

Not a Gibbs clone. I think Gibbs is a shiftier runner but Henderson is an explosive runner that will add to an offense ina similar way. He would bring a great receiver to our backfield and is the best RB at pass pro in this draft.

How about Henderson @#22? Pass pro is so important, plus we get an elite RB...only real concern is durability...

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https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...n-RB-OhioState

[CanadianBoltFan]

How about Henderson @#22? Pass pro is so important, plus we get an elite RB...only real concern is durability...

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https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...n-RB-OhioState

Give me any of the top 4...Jeanty, Hampton, Johnson, Henderson and i am pretty happy. It would have to be at 22 though, they are gone by 55. Maybe Judkins could be there but who knows.

[sonorajim]

peop[le need to watch Loveland's 2023 tape to understand why Jeremiah has him ranked as 7th best player and compares him to kelsey.....also why he will not make it past DEN....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210iHwdhPkM

This wont happen but if Jeanty and Loveland are there at 22, Chargers will take Jeanty because Loveland may make 8 catches per game or so but Jeanrty will touv=ch the ball 25-30 times per game..... having even more impact.... odds are neither will drop to us....

Ekeler, is that you?
Pacheco over Kelce? KC takes Kelce. Scheme fits both but a crafty TE is the ace in the hole.

[Boltjolt]

Where do you see Taylor going, seems like his stock is skyrocketing right now...

Not sure if he makes it to our #55 or not. But if we need to trade up a bit for him and Hortiz can do it without giving up a.pick like he did with Ladd, that may be a way to go.

Then again idk who they are targeting.

Seems many players stock is skyrocketing but I can't believe everything I read. I'm not buying Zabels stock. Id be very surprised if he goes 1st round. I'm thinking mid 2nd to mid 3rd.

[Boltx]

Didn't see this mentioned...salary cap going up quite a bit this year.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...nsecutive-year

[Bolt4Knob]

Didn't see this mentioned...salary cap going up quite a bit this year.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...nsecutive-year

$5-7m more for every team compared too what Jason OTC had estimate

[Bolt4Knob]

The 1st yr is always going to be way lower. So, you can sign a guy for 120 mil and the first year only count 9 mil toward the cap. It's the last couple of years of the contract that you have to worry about and by then you can resign the player or cut/trade them.

I was more referring to allocation of cap. Last couple years the Chargers have spent much more on Edge with Bosa and Mack than DE/ DT. Maybe the plan forward is to spend on DT - the two names I mention as candidates and allocate different on Edge with maybe a draft pick and a player like Mack or Sweat at big money. Along with one bigger money IDL