Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[CanadianBoltFan]

Ted Hurst is going to be a season 1 (2026) contributor, dude knows big games big plays. I'm not sure if Caldwell will be ready in year 2. He only had 32 receptions last year in college, under 500 yards. I watched his "highlights" and he does not play as fast as his 40 at all. Round loose routes, the only highlights I saw him deep behind the secondary was a couple blown coverages. He's not elusive underneath for a lot of YAC at the NFL level. I think he's gonna be a project and could be a long project. Anyone old enough to remember how long it took Vince Jackson to develop? Answer = year 4 was his breakout year. VJax was sammy-even-smaller school but still - I see a comparable growth path possible.

I'd rather take Bryce Lance than Caldwell for whats probably a Day 3 WR flier. Better receiver, more polished, more production. just as fast (I think he had a faster 10 yard split = separation burst)

I would rather take Lance too...but he is round 3 and Caldwell is probably round 5

[CanadianBoltFan]

Hortiz could add Deebo Samuel after the draft in May or June.
1 year deal with incentive pay for catches and yards.
He had success with McDaniel. Would improve the depth chart and I think would be a better addition than bringing back Keenan Allen. Deebo is also 4 years younger than Allen.

It would be fun to mix it up and bring in Deebo over Keenan as the veteran.

[Charge!]

It would be fun to mix it up and bring in Deebo over Keenan as the veteran.

Deebo is really a RB playing WR.... so i could see MM approving adding him to add to roster as a WR/RB... etc

[Charge!]

I like the receiving corps (including Gadsden), it's young with good potential. QJ could pop this season, he and Herbert seemed to be building a connection last year.

I would agree, ...but does the new MM regime want to add a #1 WR like Brown or others, mean we are looking to replace KA????
and will keep QJ to see what he becomes?... knowing he has improved every year so fsr???

[CanadianBoltFan]

I would agree, ...but does the new MM regime want to add a #1 WR like Brown or others, mean we are looking to replace KA????
and will keep QJ to see what he becomes?... knowing he has improved every year so fsr???

QJ's future will be pretty decided by May 1, if not before in the draft.

I don't see the Chargers picking up his 5th year option, but i could be wrong. That doesn't mean they won't keep him for year 4 but it certainly won't shock me if MM wants an upgrade

[Charge!]

QJ's future will be pretty decided by May 1, if not before in the draft.

I don't see the Chargers picking up his 5th year option, but i could be wrong. That doesn't mean they won't keep him for year 4 but it certainly won't shock me if MM wants an upgrade

agree!,,,, if they wanted to pick it up they would have done it by now!...

[Velo]

I would agree, ...but does the new MM regime want to add a #1 WR like Brown or others, mean we are looking to replace KA????
and will keep QJ to see what he becomes?... knowing he has improved every year so fsr???

Good questions. I don't know all the answers. It seems to make sense to let QJ play out his rookie contract to see if he makes more strides forward.

QJ's future will be pretty decided by May 1, if not before in the draft.

I don't see the Chargers picking up his 5th year option, but i could be wrong. That doesn't mean they won't keep him for year 4 but it certainly won't shock me if MM wants an upgrade

I will go out on a limb and state positively they don't pick up his 5th year, but I think they want to give him year 4 to prove his value.

[Topcat]

Good questions. I don't know all the answers. It seems to make sense to let QJ play out his rookie contract to see if he makes more strides forward.

I will go out on a limb and state positively they don't pick up his 5th year, but I think they want to give him year 4 to prove his value.

And then, QJ will test FA, especially if he has a solid year with a low drop rate...

[wu-dai clan]

You are looking at their depth chart for a base 3-4 defense, which would feature a very big Defensive End (not an edge), a nose tackle and a defensive tackle.

We might see such an alignment 20% of the time, but they will only have two massive boys on the field in most deployments.

Ebiogbe is 292 pounds. He's a traditional 3-4 end--don't confuse that with an edge defender (OLB). Caldwell is 330-ish, he sure won't be straying far from the interior when lining up.

Looking at both our base defense and our 4-2-5 lopk etc helps us zero in on exactly what pieces we are missing. There are specific skills (and weaknesses) that various types bring in this draft.

Faulk is someone who's mentioned. I brought up Overton. There are pure penetrating 3Techs, as in Peter Woods. There needs to be a mix of personnel.

[La Costa Boy]

This is from a Bob McGinn article on Go Long.

Ted Hurst, Georgia State (6-4, 207, 4.44)

Said one scout: “Nobody knew about him until he got to the Senior Bowl. He’s probably the fastest riser. He’s unpolished but he’s super explosive and competitive. It’s hard to jam him off the line. He’s got a big (catching) radius and he can run. He’s going to get a lot better. He’s more than just a developmental guy. He’s better than a fourth-rounder.”

As they say, you can work on the intangibles, route running, blocking, etc. but you can't teach size nor speed. Interesting guy and worth a look eh Joe???

[Velo]

And then, QJ will test FA, especially if he has a solid year with a low drop rate...

If QJ lights it up they can negotiate an extension mid-season and never let him hit FA.

[Topcat]

If QJ lights it up they can negotiate an extension mid-season and never let him hit FA.

If QJ lights it up, he should also realize that Herbie is the one helping him light it up...if he signs for more $$$ with a crappy or mediocre QB, his light will no doubt dim...and fans at his new team will be calling him a bust...