The Official 2026 Chargers Season Discussion - (0-1)

[CanadianBoltFan]

We'll see what Hortiz does. He has some tightwad in him, in spite of cap room.

There's only a few players I don't want to retain, and that is mostly about scheme fit and McD. I could certainly live with all your moves B4K.

I am on board too. B4K for Assistant GM!

[wu-dai clan]

Now, a year from now, there probably won't be the excess cap space if they spend on getting the right guys this year - but thats totally okay. One reason i want Zion to be the fit at the right price is he is 27 years old - so you can have him and Alt and Slater and this presumptive OC. Maybe it is Luke Fortner - he is only 26 in May. So maybe while everybody is talking Linderbaum if the tape don't lie for Fortner - he could be a guy that maybe you get at say 30/3 - betting big on him if the SAints can't bring him back. But now you have 4/5ths of your Oline, add a draft pick or even Penning and thats a group you can have for a few years

Again, all in the tape and scheme fit - so Mike McD - get up at 4am and start grinding over that tape of Oline candidates!

Good call. Although I am not as much of a Penning guy as the rest of you.

[Bolts&noles]

When is the time teams start releasing guys?

[Chargers8491]

IMHO, if free agency goes anything like my sig (Different players) I think the draft will go something like this:

1) CB
2) DT/EDGE
3) EDGE/DT
4) OG/OC
6) OC/OG

[beachcomber]

I think CJ Allen in the 1st is simply terrible value and Joly in the 3rd not very good value either.

CJ Allen is an off the ball LB who can't rush off the edge. In NFL D, particuarly ours, he is not even going to be on the field 1/3 of the time (when we play dime). So, 1/3 of the plays we are using a pick that could reinforce a position for a part time player. Allen specifically, while he is a good ILB, his noticeable plays are mostly just chest thumping tackles, not impact plays (sacks, tipped passes, forced fumbles). They get people fired up a bit, but a guy 3 rounds later would make most of the same plays, just not as well. If we didn't have Henley, he could be that every down ILB who wears the dot and can really solidify a bad defense inside coverage. BUt while it is great to go after a 2nd guy for a D, you are throwing away draft capital ona spot when there are a bunch of impact DL, edge and some OL help, all of which are going to win on the line and make impact plays.

Joly I like more, but it is all about how much upside you think he has to displace OG. OG is poised to be a big weapon at TE. Joly has a ton of work to do to be a blocker. He simply isn't effective enough for a team that is again talking about running the ball. He lacks great speed to challenge NFL S in the 2 high S look. So, if he is going to make an impact and displace OG, he has to add something and that has to be adding something as a blocker. Joly struggles blocking on the edge anyway. If he has a role, it would be at FB, except that he has shown nothing in terms of his ability to be a lead blocker. He is not very good inline, but simply struggles is space and hitting a moving target. Joly attack LB horizontally as a recevier, but lacks downfield speed so you really need him to be that sort of slot-ish guy vs a LB, and I don't know why anyone would cover him like that.

my fear is that for the if and when Denzel goes down, that we will not be able to stop the run, and.... by my accounting there are only two LBs that work for me in that regard, and that's Allen and Jacob Rodriguez ??

if you (or Nutty) can find one three rounds later.... good on yah.

also don't want to be in the position of passing on Allen and then being forced to reach for Rodriguez.

looking at my first round cluster.... wouldn't mind Caleb Lomu, but how much is he gonna play if our hoped for wish of a healthy Rashawn 'n Joe pan out ??

Kayden McDonald would also be really good against the run, and like Allen is a very good tackler, and.... personally much prefer Allen's intangibles over McDonald's.

and again for myself, Peter Woods would be the toughest decision next to Allen, as think he's gonna be really good, and do like his intangibles quite a bit, albeit his production is not there, albeit again and personally don't think that's gonna be a problem, and.... he would be a rotational guy w/Teair.

@guard, am not convinced that the either of Pregnon nor Vega are the answer to our games/stunts dilemma @guard, and as just prefer Allen to the either of 'em, and again personally.... like DJ Campbell round four if that were to work out, and to have him play behind FA Ed Ingram or the like, and to bring back Zion if possible for a reasonable rate, albeit cannot argue w/Keylan Rutledge if you are willing to spend a second on him to make sure you can get him, albeit again not overly excited 'bout his intangibles neither.

and so yeah, plenty of peoples here are excited 'bout DL prospects round one and two, and do like Mesidor and Joshua Josephs some, and.... for myself it's front seven and Allen as the most helpful addition for any SB run, and to stop the run.

and round two, am not taking chances @center, and am reaching for Brailsford, unless something changes between now and late April, and of which in all likelihood could well be the case.

[beachcomber]

and re: Joly.... really didn't like how Bud Clark pretty much stole the ball from him over the top on a contested catch interception, and of which is s'posed to be one of Joly's strengths ??

do like the separation he gets, and like Gadsden, not convinced his blocking is a dealbreaker, and.... like Gadsden, he's got some work to do when he gets to the NFL, and like most draft picks do.

the alternative from my vantage point is to pay Cade Otton his projected $8m/year, and who could well spell Conklin as our hybrid TE, just not overly convinced he warrants the budget it would take to reel him in, and not sure that drafting someone like Joly wouldn't be a better get ??

and back to the draft, not sure Tanner Koziol would be there come round six, nor is he the guy I want, and.... is Brett Norfleet worth a draft pick, and/or what are the odds that we could get him if he ends up an UDFA ??

again it's more personal opinion/preference more than anything, and as didn't like some of the things I saw from Joly @SB week, he is still what I would most like opposite OG.... a route running/pass catching TE, as think we're pretty good for blocking TEs w/the both of Dissly 'n Fisk.

will add that if I/we did pass on Joly round three, would prolly fill in there w/NT Dontay Corleone if he is still on the board, albeit there is perhaps a smidgin' of a chance that he might make it to day three/round six....

[dmac_bolt]

Mack had more sacks than J. Bosa in 2024 and 2025.

Joey had 5 and we ran Joey off. Joey had another 5 this year and we got to see more of his patented playoff helmet chucking behavior.

I want Mack back, but he should be under $15M. Joey and him had basically identical stats, Joey got $12.6M

[Boltnut]

Thats is why I am suggesting someone like TJ Parker to chip in some sacks along side Tuli and Oweh if Mack expects 18 mil again

O line must be PRIORITY ONE and it all cant come from the draft and it will cost significant cap money, cant spend it all on Edge

You and I see eye-to-eye on this one.
And this has been my stance for a while now.

[el_jefe999]

I will be following the draft and FA closely but IMO it all boils down to the fact we have something like 100 million to spend and very clearly defined needs(3 iol, 2 edge, ilb, cb, dl). It has to get done. No excuses. Hortiz needs to make it happen.(and no I'm not hating or doubting it just needs to be any fans demands this year)

[Boltjolt]

Good call. Although I am not as much of a Penning guy as the rest of you.

I'm not a Penning guy at all. He should be a late addition IF we can still use a OL for jumbo packages and a backup OG if we haven't got one already, and then he may not be available at that point. But I trust if MM thinks he can use him somewhere on the iOL.........cheap

[Boltjolt]

Joey had 5 and we ran Joey off. Joey had another 5 this year and we got to see more of his patented playoff helmet chucking behavior.

I want Mack back, but he should be under $15M. Joey and him had basically identical stats, Joey got $12.6M

Yes Joey had 5 and another helmet slam,... against a wall this time

[Bolt4Knob]

I am on board too. B4K for Assistant GM!

Thanks for the votes of confidence

I am open to a lot happening. I like the idea of Linderbaum as I know the name and same with McGovern - but I am sure there are other players who might fit the cap puzzle better. Which might allow for a more complete roster Sure the Chargers can afford Linderaum or McGovern along with an OG that makes in the 13-15m range - but I am open to other options. The thing is, Hortiz can't have "hope as a strategy". He has to be convinced. At least two of the positions on the IOL so if that means a bit more money, it makes sense

I think he will succeed!