Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[beachcomber]

not sure of the wisdom of it, and.... am pretty clear that the one change I would like to see on this roster, is a front that allows for Herb to throw mid field strikes and the longball.

two games come to mind.... his very first in KC.... we were used to Taylor lobbing balls over peoples heads, and all of a sudden Herbert turns the midfield into a laser strike missile field, w/balls traveling horizontal for yards on end and Keenan having to risk life and limb, just to snare one of those rocket launched projectiles.

the other game is when Steichen first uncorked TBilly the length of the field, and then I think Jalen Guyton got in on things as well.... Houston lit us up early this last playoffs.... we need to have that in our arsenal.... if Cole Strange can't pass block, not so excited 'bout what else he can do.

Jim Harbaugh, it's on you.... you can do better than that.... both on the field and off.

[Boltjolt]

I don't give ALL the credit to Herbie for QJ's success...but don't u think Justin deserves at least quite a bit of the credit? Imagine if QJ was on certain other teams with a low-rated qb...

Sure he can have some credit , but can we not say that about about most receivers who dont have a good QB? Look at Justin Jefferson. He had a decent year but compared to his usual seasons, it was a down year. Career lows with only 2 TDs and his lowest YPC, lowest catch rate, lowest YPG. Lower than the season he only played in 10 games.

Our offense had the worst OL in the league last year and its a wonder any of our receivers put up decent numbers. Herbert sacked the most of his career and pressured and hit the most of his career. I hope he isnt gun shy when he comes to camp because he sure looked it at the end of the season.

[Boltjolt]

You think Kayode was signed at 1.8 to start?

I will take Penning over that. Not saying much I know but that is where the Chargers are pre-draft.

He is depth.....look for us to draft a OG and sign another vet.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Yep...I think Cleveland and Kaltenburger are on the bubble and can be upgraded...Coyote has been a backup most of his career, so ideally we draft a plug-and-play G in round 1-2...

Cleveland is huge with very limited athleticism...gap scheme all the way. Not a much of a fit

[electricgold]

That's what I'm hoping for and expect.
There's a good number of OG candidates if we include some OTs that may start inside- and provide OT depth at the same time.

Hoping for and expect? Sounds like you may be putting the cart before the horse and to this point you have total faith in Hortiz and give him an A+ regardless of building a one and done team two season in a row.

Nothing wrong with having faith, but I'm basing everything off of results and improving our deficiencies. I will say I hope you're right tho. However, remember Hortiz had total faith and belief in our IOL and Center for two seasons in a row! Don't know if he was lying, but we all could see the problem there and he continued to preach and BELIEVE that IOL had the right stuff, and made lame additions to the Oline these last two seasons other than Alt, all along the way! Pure and simple that was his oline he put together, one of the worst in the league!

I really hope he does address our oline with good players in this draft, but I'm also preparing for him drafting an OG and or OT later in the draft that no one's heard of and proclaiming that they are really good olineman.

Until proven otherwise, Hortiz has not been very good in free agency, or addressing the Oline. Can't say that won't change, but it's now or never with him! I hope he turns it all around.

[beachcomber]

LT Caleb Lomu
LG Rashawn Slater, Cole Strange, Kayode Awosika
OG Tyler Biadasz, Parker Brailsford, Bryce Foster
RG Trevor Penning, Keylan Rutledge, Ben Cleveland, Branson Taylor
RT Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins

that gives us two backup LTs, and two (maybe even 3 ?) backup RTs
and personally would put not only Branson Taylor back on the ps, but along w/Bryce Foster, would prolly put Pips there as well, as am under the impression that KayO might be the better swing tackle ??

would also consider drafting DJ Campbell round four, as have moved into the camp of getting this line right, and to leave nothing to chance in terms of Herbert maxing out his ceiling.... we don't have holes anywhere else enough that necessitate passing on Olineman in their stead.

[Scharnhorst43]

Sure he can have some credit , but can we not say that about about most receivers who dont have a good QB? Look at Justin Jefferson. He had a decent year but compared to his usual seasons, it was a down year. Career lows with only 2 TDs and his lowest YPC, lowest catch rate, lowest YPG. Lower than the season he only played in 10 games.

Our offense had the worst OL in the league last year and its a wonder any of our receivers put up decent numbers. Herbert sacked the most of his career and pressured and hit the most of his career. I hope he isnt gun shy when he comes to camp because he sure looked it at the end of the season.

That's my biggest fear. Mike Tyson said it best..." everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth" And # 10 got punched......a lot. I hope he can forget it and trust the return of Alt and Slater or I have a hunch we are looking at a down year.

[Steve]

I will keep saying it, signing Kayode is not about getting a plug and play guy. None of the FA we have signed are. The point is to get guys who have some trait. Strange and Kayode are both athletic guys who can play in space, which is what an outside zone O needs. Am I satisfied they will be the "fix" ... maybe. They will have to improve over their previous performances.

Strange had the best year of his 4 year career last season, so you can argue his arrow is pointed up????? And he has played C before too, so he adds depth at both OG spots and C.

Kayode is a little miscast in the Lions O. THey tried to develop him into a pulling OG, and make him a power player ... and it never quite worked. From a scheme fit perspective ... maybe he will do better with us ?????? He has also been a 6th OL/Blocking TE in Detroits O.

Penning had his best season as a pro with us .... mostly as an extra TE .... 6th OL type of player who had some success blocking in space on the move ... kind of like you use outside zone OG ...

Kaltenberger had some moments as a rookie in preseason. However, he wasn't even a very good player in college .. had only 1 good college year ... but played along the line. Maybe he can develop ...

None of these is ideal. Far from it, they are all grasping at straws.

But if you can find enough of these guys and let them compete. Of all the guy above, maybe one of them will step up and be a starter caliber guy. Maybe even Cleveland can compete.

Even finding backups has it place. Last year we had a mostly intact IOL. Becton missed some time but all 3 are gone now. While they were healthy last year, that is hardly the rule over the Charger history. Adding depth is worthwhile because we need it most seasons.

[Charge!]

Here is an interesting video on how MM will create an offense for herbert:

https://www.chargers.com/video/how-mike-mcdaniel-will-build-justin-herberts-offense

[beachcomber]

think Harbaugh's biggest mistake would be to trot out a hobbled Rashawn Slater as his starting LT.... def of the mind that Slater needs to start out @guard and see where things/his health goes from there.

and signing a hobbled/injury prone RT to back up your coming off of injuries, pair of tackles, is just bad business.... we need to draft a LT @22, no three ways about it.

[sonorajim]

Hoping for and expect? Sounds like you may be putting the cart before the horse and to this point you have total faith in Hortiz and give him an A+ regardless of building a one and done team two season in a row.

Nothing wrong with having faith, but I'm basing everything off of results and improving our deficiencies. I will say I hope you're right tho. However, remember Hortiz had total faith and belief in our IOL and Center for two seasons in a row! Don't know if he was lying, but we all could see the problem there and he continued to preach and BELIEVE that IOL had the right stuff, and made lame additions to the Oline these last two seasons other than Alt, all along the way! Pure and simple that was his oline he put together, one of the worst in the league!

I really hope he does address our oline with good players in this draft, but I'm also preparing for him drafting an OG and or OT later in the draft that no one's heard of and proclaiming that they are really good olineman.

Until proven otherwise, Hortiz has not been very good in free agency, or addressing the Oline. Can't say that won't change, but it's now or never with him! I hope he turns it all around.

FA, not perfect. We can't blame Najee's fireworks on Hortiz though. Tear Tart was excellent.Perryman good, Unc very good.
I have no Excuse for Bozeman. Zion was inherited, Bechton swing and miss. Draft pick Alt was awesome.(When healthy) Slater was excellent (when healthy).

Re; Cart before the horse? A+? You didn't get that from me. Two 11 win seasons aren't exactly one and done. We've been better than average. That's not the A+ goal. A Lombardi Trophy and repeat SB appearances is. We've improved with Hortiz. That's good, not great. Yet.
Let's play 2026 before I'll grade him.

[Javia]

think Harbaugh's biggest mistake would be to trot out a hobbled Rashawn Slater as his starting LT.... def of the mind that Slater needs to start out @guard and see where things/his health goes from there.

and signing a hobbled/injury prone RT to back up your coming off of injuries, pair of tackles, is just bad business.... we need to draft a LT @22, no three ways about it.

Josh Simmons looked pretty good last year. Strange was healthy and mobile. A torn *****lar tendon is not a career ender anymore.