Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[Boltnut]

Perfect! 3rd and Keenan galore! Maybe why he led the league in that departmentment. You wouldn't call that a mismatch? Teams will still have 3rd and 4th string CBs in MM offense.

I get it, Keenan is 33, he isn't fast enough for many of you yet keeps producing. I don't understand it, but I get it.

Whether he is here or not , really won't bother me much if they feel others are ready to step up.

Here's my take on Keenan... they know it's LAC or no one. They can wait. If there is an injury to the WR corps during the season... KA is on the speed-dial.

[YAC]

1st: Akheem Mesidor, TJ Parker

Zion Young, Gabe Jacas, and Malachi Lawrence are players that will probably go late 1st, early 2nd but won't be there in the 2nd round for us... they fit our style. I like Cashius Howell, Joshua Josephs, and R Mason-Thomas (probably also late 1st-mid 2nd)... but probably don't fit our style... liability vs the run.

I will generally defer to you on specific player evals as I don't have time to watch much tape. I respect your opinion highly, if that's not already obvious. So your favorites:

• Mesidor
• TJ Parker
• Zion Young
• Jacas
• Malachi Lawrence

Follow-up questions, if you are game / have time:

-Oweh was also viewed as a liability vrs. the run, but he wasn't exactly a true starter. If we consider explicitly replacing Oweh's role: a pass rushing specialist...how would you feel about R Mason if he slid to us in the second round? Another pass rushing specialist?

-General thoughts on Romello Height? Didn't see you mention him.

-My view is that in the next year and a half the Chargers need to ideally replace (A) someone like Oweh, and (B) someone like an aging but solid all-around Mack. Thoughts on that approach to roster construction?

[YAC]

Lots can be learned from snap counts. That's why I've invested no small effort in building various reports to visualize and communicate them.

Check this out. What do you all observe? My thoughts in the next post.


OLB_down_the_stretch.png

[Boltnut]

I will generally defer to you on specific player evals as I don't have time to watch much tape. So your favorites:

• Mesidor
• TJ Parker
• Zion Young
• Jacas
• Malachi Lawrence

Follow-up questions, if you are game / have time:

-Oweh was also viewed as a liability vrs. the run, but he wasn't exactly a true starter. If we consider explicitly replacing Oweh's role: a pass rushing specialist...how would you feel about R Mason if he slid to us in the second round?

-General thoughts on Romello Height? Didn't see you mention him.

-My view is that in the next year and a half the Chargers need to ideally replace (A) someone like Oweh, and (B) someone like an aging but solid all-around Mack. Thoughts on that approach to roster construction?

I really like R Mason's tape. If they are looking for pass rush specialist, he would fit the bill. He reminds me a bit of Donovan Ezeiruaku from last year (whom I liked also)... Even though both of them are a bit on the smaller side, they both show a lot of strength. Should Mack or Tuli get hurt, however, we would be weak against the run... and I fear an offense would target that weakness. Also, kind of looking for a guy to eventually replace Mack (should he wear down in-season or retire at the end of this season). O'Leary could have a different approach than Minter. Minter always wanted to have his edge players set that edge first... then shed and chase the QB.

I have to admit, I haven't watched much of Romello Height. His highlights look really fast. But I don't see the strength of R Mason. I could be wrong... I haven't watched him much. It's hard to say where he will go. If it's pure speed a team wants, he'll go earlier than our 2nd round pick... he may end up a WILL for a 4-3 team.

[YAC]

OK...My energy is suddenly fading this Sunday night. I'll limit my observation to just this: Oweh's snap counts, and let's just zoom right in on the playoff game.

Vs the Patriots Odafe played less than 40% of all defensive snaps! Remarkable.

• Remarkable that he registered 3 sacks while only being on the field for 30 snaps
• Remarkable that Oweh had zero sacks before a mid-season flip to the Chargers
• Remarkable that he was rated as a top 2026 FA target, and got such a a bag

When the Chargers had Mack and Tuli healthy, Oweh was almost pure specialist. But in Minter's scheme he showed juice the other two didn't, though some of that might be accounted for due to NASCAR packages and other scheme tricks.

Should Odafe be ethically bound to send half his new salary to Minter for unlocking him? Will the Commanders coaches be able to do the same? Things to ponder.

[Velo]

Twelve important players drafted by, traded for or signed by Tom Telesco. He had his misses, but he also hit on some gems in his final few seasons. It still makes me chuckle that after the fan hate he has endured and the trainwreck the OL has been the past two seasons that Pipkins is still standing.

Justin Herbert
Rashawn Slater
Derwin James
Tuli Tuipulotu
Denzel Perryman
Daiyan Henley
Quentin Johnston
Keenan Allen
Trey Pipkins
Khalil Mack
Josh Harris
Cameron Dicker

[YAC]

I really like R Mason's tape. If they are looking for pass rush specialist, he would fit the bill. He reminds me a bit of Donovan Ezeiruaku from last year (whom I liked also)

If he's another Ezeiruaku...grab him, snatch him, don't let him get away. Eze has already been good (elite for a rookie) against both run and pass as it turns out. The sacks have eluded him so far, but he's been a pressure machine.

[Boltnut]

If he's another Ezeiruaku...grab him, snatch him, don't let him get away. Eze has already been good (elite for a rookie) against both run and pass as it turns out. The sacks have eluded him so far, but he's been a pressure machine.

We'll see. That's a tall order. I had Eze in my 1st round cluster last year. I don't have R Mason that high, however, this year.

[YAC]

My argumentent of Brown is he is always hurt. He is decent when he isn't but since 2023 he hasn't done much and missed 26 games, including 7 that season in 2023. That's the only reason I say he has no value. He is usually in the trainers room.
So is Patrick. He is hurt even more. Can't play STs when you injured and looks like he hasn't played STs since 2022.

That's a very valid and fair criticism of my suggestion. Sincerely. Truly. Here's my response: Virtually all the remaining Free Agents are either:
-Old
-Injury Prone
-Both Old and Injury Prone, LOL

But these older low budget FAs do come with a few advantages:

• They have proven they can play in the league and know some tricks.
• Assuming health...are ready to plug and play
• They are cheap
• They don't cost a precious draft pick.

Brown is 30. Not so old. Sure had a tough year in '25 with a variety of injuries last year. But that's a risk/reward I think the Chargers might consider for a down-roster WR who can both play all ST units sufficiently (or better) and come in and catch passes if needed.

Let's not pretend that draftees don't get injured (sometimes frequently) as well.

[YAC]

We'll see. That's a tall order. I had Eze in my 1st round cluster last year. I don't have R Mason that high, however, this year.

You were the one making the comparison! Got me all worked up, too. Now I gotta cool myself down...geesh.

[DerwinBosa]

Anybody interested in CB in Round 2...? Some good ones should be there. Jackson is a free agent after 2026...

If that's the best player available, absolutely. It's been quite a while since we've had a top cornerback in our defense. Getting one will turn this defense up quite a bit. I'm excited about Hortiz stacking an already good defense with more talent in this draft.

[gzubeck]

hes a good WR but not great... he lacks explosive speed.... he is not better than what we already have.... he is really good, but experts far better than me say he is not elite or special... experts usually know more than we do... most non experts thing Alabamas OL are great but most of them are not... slow, fat and not special!

most years they have elite super fad\st, explosive WR's..... not this year....

Steve Smith has him as the #9 WR in this draft. He also thinks that after a few years of playing pro ball that he could move up that value chart higher than #9 that he is currently at.