The Official 2026 Chargers Season Discussion - (0-2)

[Chargers8491]

Can he play Special Teams?

I'm sure he could but he is a better player than just a special team player. He was a surprise cut. He is Perriman level without the injuries.

[Chargers8491]

I think we let the draft come to us, but to your point, reading a lot of mock drafts, I think those positions (DT, edge, OG) that will be there.

The one thing I think people need to consider is that our OG may be a college OT. A large portion of NFL OG were OT in college, and even more than most teams, we don't care if a player is a OT or OG. Get the best player and even if he best position might be OT, play him at OG.

The other position that seems to be falling to the bottom of the 1st is CB. Still had a great rookie year, but is Hart prepared to be a starter? I see Will Johnson falling in a lot of mocks because he lacks true deep speed, but he is a good man coverage guy if he can play with a cushion.

Jahdae Barron is a good zone coverage guy, who would be an elite (Cooper DeJean, not the same style player, but could be as dominant out of the gate) nickel DB. Would be a project outside, even though he played outside CB in Texas base D, and is just such a good fit as a nickel/star position, which is what James plays much of the time. Can and did play deep S. Lacks the traditional first round CB speed.

The other guy I keep dreaming about is Xavier Woods. Alohi and James are both best up close to the line, in underneath coverage in position to blitz. We resigned Molden to be a 2 deep S, but Woods would be a great fit at the other - over the top S spot. He can play deep and react to the ball, or play robber and take away crossers underneath. He can also do some of the thing that Alohi and James do, so mix it up and make our secondary a bit of a chess piece matchup nightmare for other teams.

Scherff is still available and could see him being signed after the draft if the Chargers don't come away with an OG. Even if they draft and OG, he might still be worth signing.

[Boltjolt]

I think we let the draft come to us, but to your point, reading a lot of mock drafts, I think those positions (DT, edge, OG) that will be there.

The one thing I think people need to consider is that our OG may be a college OT. A large portion of NFL OG were OT in college, and even more than most teams, we don't care if a player is a OT or OG. Get the best player and even if he best position might be OT, play him at OG.

The other position that seems to be falling to the bottom of the 1st is CB. Still had a great rookie year, but is Hart prepared to be a starter? I see Will Johnson falling in a lot of mocks because he lacks true deep speed, but he is a good man coverage guy if he can play with a cushion.

Jahdae Barron is a good zone coverage guy, who would be an elite (Cooper DeJean, not the same style player, but could be as dominant out of the gate) nickel DB. Would be a project outside, even though he played outside CB in Texas base D, and is just such a good fit as a nickel/star position, which is what James plays much of the time. Can and did play deep S. Lacks the traditional first round CB speed.

The other guy I keep dreaming about is Xavier Woods. Alohi and James are both best up close to the line, in underneath coverage in position to blitz. We resigned Molden to be a 2 deep S, but Woods would be a great fit at the other - over the top S spot. He can play deep and react to the ball, or play robber and take away crossers underneath. He can also do some of the thing that Alohi and James do, so mix it up and make our secondary a bit of a chess piece matchup nightmare for other teams.

You mean Notre Dames Xavier Watts? If so yes i like him too but have never mocked him as i think we should be good at safety and need a CB

[sonorajim]

I think we let the draft come to us, but to your point, reading a lot of mock drafts, I think those positions (DT, edge, OG) that will be there.

The one thing I think people need to consider is that our OG may be a college OT. A large portion of NFL OG were OT in college, and even more than most teams, we don't care if a player is a OT or OG. Get the best player and even if he best position might be OT, play him at OG.

The other position that seems to be falling to the bottom of the 1st is CB. Still had a great rookie year, but is Hart prepared to be a starter? I see Will Johnson falling in a lot of mocks because he lacks true deep speed, but he is a good man coverage guy if he can play with a cushion.

Jahdae Barron is a good zone coverage guy, who would be an elite (Cooper DeJean, not the same style player, but could be as dominant out of the gate) nickel DB. Would be a project outside, even though he played outside CB in Texas base D, and is just such a good fit as a nickel/star position, which is what James plays much of the time. Can and did play deep S. Lacks the traditional first round CB speed.

The other guy I keep dreaming about is Xavier Woods. Alohi and James are both best up close to the line, in underneath coverage in position to blitz. We resigned Molden to be a 2 deep S, but Woods would be a great fit at the other - over the top S spot. He can play deep and react to the ball, or play robber and take away crossers underneath. He can also do some of the thing that Alohi and James do, so mix it up and make our secondary a bit of a chess piece matchup nightmare for other teams.

I wonder if we would pass on S Malaki Starks. Elite talent, physical skills if he fell to us. Johnson or Barron would be very tempting. Minter would have some unusually strong DB talent to work with.
I agree, we probably let the draft come to us and take the best player that fits Harbaugh's 2025 Chargers.

[dmac_bolt]

Exactly. Thats why I think its worth the $5m of cap space to keep him at this point

It’s $6M and I’m 100% all in betting they keep him as insurance too.

[Bolt4Knob]

Scherff is still available and could see him being signed after the draft if the Chargers don't come away with an OG. Even if they draft and OG, he might still be worth signing.

Scherff
Allen
Campbell
Judon or other Edge
maybe even JK
all post draft to me

I just dont thinks its wise to duplicate at this point

[el_jefe999]

Scherff
Allen
Campbell
Judon or other Edge
maybe even JK
all post draft to me

I just dont thinks its wise to duplicate at this point

Agree we will see how the draft falls and add depth pieces as needed after that. I'm hoping we solve Edge and WR in the draft, take a developmental TE in the 3rd-5th. It's a pleasure seeing the team go into a draft without any glaring needs(other than edge) and being able to take the best value everywhere.

[Steve]

I wonder if we would pass on S Malaki Starks. Elite talent, physical skills if he fell to us. Johnson or Barron would be very tempting. Minter would have some unusually strong DB talent to work with.
I agree, we probably let the draft come to us and take the best player that fits Harbaugh's 2025 Chargers.

Malaki Starks has the same skill sets as James and Alohi. Better underneath guy, who is does his best work up close to the line where he is always getting the offenses way. I think he will be a great player, but it is hard to find a way to use him in a D that has James and Alohi in front of him. Starks would be better than Alohi, but Alohi is already out of place being a deep S on regular nickel downs. James we back to being the guy who was a top player because we played him up close to the line as a nickel (star CB/S) player.

Woods has a more scare skill set. He can play up close, but is really like Ed Reed in that he is better off being a deep S or 2 deep player, who can just break on the ball. He is also an excellent Robber (S who aligns deep, then drops down to stop crossing routes).

I agree that CB is a bit of a need, but while I like Johnson and Barron, both are incremental improvements on Hart and Still, who were both pretty good. It would help get better, but not as much as if we add a good player at a position of weakness.

[Steve]

Scherff
Allen
Campbell
Judon or other Edge
maybe even JK
all post draft to me

I just dont thinks its wise to duplicate at this point

Totally agree. I think we should probably wait to see how things pan out.

I would love to have any of those players on the list above. But we might be able to do better by adding a top rookie.

We have basically plugged the big leaks on the roster. Not ideal moves, but cheap and we don't have to force rookies into the areas of need. And if we don't get top rookies, then we can still get some role players from the list above.

[sonorajim]

Malaki Starks has the same skill sets as James and Alohi. Better underneath guy, who is does his best work up close to the line where he is always getting the offenses way. I think he will be a great player, but it is hard to find a way to use him in a D that has James and Alohi in front of him. Starks would be better than Alohi, but Alohi is already out of place being a deep S on regular nickel downs. James we back to being the guy who was a top player because we played him up close to the line as a nickel (star CB/S) player.

Woods has a more scare skill set. He can play up close, but is really like Ed Reed in that he is better off being a deep S or 2 deep player, who can just break on the ball. He is also an excellent Robber (S who aligns deep, then drops down to stop crossing routes).

I agree that CB is a bit of a need, but while I like Johnson and Barron, both are incremental improvements on Hart and Still, who were both pretty good. It would help get better, but not as much as if we add a good player at a position of weakness.

I'd say we are a weak average at starting C, DT . Upgrading depth at TE, WR, RB, Edge, DB makes sense.
So, it's either C or DT at 22 and 55 and BPA not QB or OT rest of the way.

[Bolt4Knob]

Totally agree. I think we should probably wait to see how things pan out.

I would love to have any of those players on the list above. But we might be able to do better by adding a top rookie.

We have basically plugged the big leaks on the roster. Not ideal moves, but cheap and we don't have to force rookies into the areas of need. And if we don't get top rookies, then we can still get some role players from the list above.

And its just not Allen
But like Edge - say you sign Judon before the draft but at 22 or 55, Edge is there - you have kind of duplicated your roster
Derrick Harmon at 22 -- if you sign Calais do you dare double dip with Harmon

Its also resource allocation - roster spots + cap space about why you wait until the draft

Like you said, they have plugged the leaks on the roster, the "draft proof" which Popper keeps saying. Have the draft, Hortiz will assess and circle back with the veterans. Like all the teams will
Plus you will want the rookie to get snaps in practice and game reps -

[Lefty2SLO]

Are you sure ?

Hope springs eternal . . . . . . . . .