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

[Topcat]

With a few spots open on the roster, I hope Hortiz will bring in some competition for backups along the Oline. Maybe a former 1st rounder like T Jedrick Wills, a G like Will Hernandez or Brandon Scherff. I feel like most of the other positions are stacked with depth for competition this summer.

Not a bad idea on those vets, but I'm also guessing Trader Joe will watch closely who gets cut from other teams, especially the final 53...or who he can poach off someone's PS...

[Boltnut]

With a few spots open on the roster, I hope Hortiz will bring in some competition for backups along the Oline. Maybe a former 1st rounder like T Jedrick Wills, a G like Will Hernandez or Brandon Scherff. I feel like most of the other positions are stacked with depth for competition this summer.

We'll see if more competition is brought in... we have saved a little cap space.
But Hernandez is coming off a knee injury... as is Jedrick Wills. Jedrick Wills has been on a downward spiral anyways... his run-blocking grade was 51.6 last year. Brandon Scherrf is older... and his run-blocking grade was only 57.3 last year. Mekhi Becton was a much better pick-up than those guys.

[Boltnut]

I'm guessing it might be closer to 60-40 in favor of the ground game...
(though it might be 55-45)

Yikes! The run/pass ratio will inch closer to 50/50. But 60/40...?
Seems like a waste of Herbert, Ladd, MW, QJ, and 2nd round pick Tre Harris...
The run will set up the pass... but the pass won't be completely forgotten.

Having 2 good RB's doesn't mean we forget the pass. It simply keeps them rested and fresh.
It maximizes the running game... but we will be balanced.

[Boltnut]

I don’t agree that is pretty obvious. Joe Alt is my exhibit A.
I don’t agree pass plays will be limited to sprinkles. 50%+ of plays will be pass plays, thats no sprinkle, thats a thick slathering.
Thinking that pass protection is not important is a fatal mistake imo.

Yeah, you don't draft Alt if you don't plan on throwing the ball and protecting the QB. You don't re-sign Slater unless you plan on being elite at the OT positions. Sure, they're also very good run-blockers... but they were drafted high because thet are elite pass blockers.

The Roman offense likes to strike deep down field... that's why the OT's are so important.
We can argue about the IOL's ability to pick up blitzes... but the OT's are in place to execute the offense.
Becton was a nice pick-up. Here's hoping Bozeman and Zion can step-up and play to their potential.

[Boltinloudguy]

We'll see if more competition is brought in... we have saved a little cap space.
But Hernandez is coming off a knee injury... as is Jedrick Wills. Jedrick Wills has been on a downward spiral anyways... his run-blocking grade was 51.6 last year. Brandon Scherrf is older... and his run-blocking grade was only 57.3 last year. Mekhi Becton was a much better pick-up than those guys.

I absolutely agree that Becton is a better pick than those guys. I would just like to see some competition brought in for backups.

I noticed Jedrick Wills has been on a downward spiral, maybe a culture like the Chargers can change that and we’ve seen them take a chance on another former 1st round T that was never even good in Leatherwood. Wills at least had a couple good years in Cleveland.

[powderblueboy]

There's some possibilities at LG-C
I would like to see Salyer-Zion or Zion-James
One thing seems clear : Chargers OL will be better without Pip and Boz

I don't want to see Salyer on the interior ever again.

[CanadianBoltFan]

It's pretty obvious Harbaugh is prioritizing run blocking vs pass protection as far as linemen go. This is going to be a run first team with sprinkled in pass plays. Hell, Becton isn't that great at pass protection. Harbaugh want's his linemen moving forward not backwards. Zion and Boz are above average run blockers. It's really not rocket science.

Good observation. And if the run game is deadly that will help Herbert as defenses will have to respect the run and the shouldnt be in tons of 3rd and longs where defenses can pin their ears back and rush the passer.

[CanadianBoltFan]

With a few spots open on the roster, I hope Hortiz will bring in some competition for backups along the Oline. Maybe a former 1st rounder like T Jedrick Wills, a G like Will Hernandez or Brandon Scherff. I feel like most of the other positions are stacked with depth for competition this summer.

I also would like to see some more veteran depth brought in at guard. They have left themselves a little vulnerable at IOL. What if Becton gets hurt or doesn't play at his Eagles level? Then you are looking at the same IOL as last year.

In general this regime is doing great and building the roster nicely but facts are facts....the biggest question mark at the end of the 2024 season was IOL. The biggest question mark at the beginning of the 2025 season is still IOL.

[Javia]

I don’t agree that is pretty obvious. Joe Alt is my exhibit A.
I don’t agree pass plays will be limited to sprinkles. 50%+ of plays will be pass plays, thats no sprinkle, thats a thick slathering.
Thinking that pass protection is not important is a fatal mistake imo.

Joe Alt was the #1 graded run blocker in all of college football in 2022. He was #2 in 2023. He is good at both.

[Boltnut]

I absolutely agree that Becton is a better pick than those guys. I would just like to see some competition brought in for backups.

I noticed Jedrick Wills has been on a downward spiral, maybe a culture like the Chargers can change that and we’ve seen them take a chance on another former 1st round T that was never even good in Leatherwood. Wills at least had a couple good years in Cleveland.

I'm sure Joe will scour the list of training camp cuts that occur. But, IMO, those cuts probably won't be much of an upgrade over what we already have. I thought Andre James was a good pick-up. Guys like Will Clapp and Dan Feeney are still getting signed as depth... which speaks to the lack-of-talent along the IOL positions. Maybe Salyer gets replaced as IOL depth by someone on our roster (Branson or Barnhart)... maybe a free agent. Maybe it will be one of the FA's already mentioned... Maybe one of those teams with cap-issues will be open to a trade... I have no clue.

[Boltnut]

I also would like to see some more veteran depth brought in at guard. They have left themselves a little vulnerable at IOL. What if Becton gets hurt or doesn't play at his Eagles level? Then you are looking at the same IOL as last year.

In general this regime is doing great and building the roster nicely but facts are facts....the biggest question mark at the end of the 2024 season was IOL. The biggest question mark at the beginning of the 2025 season is still IOL.

There is a competition @center... Zion, Bozeman, James. Should Becton go down (gawd forbid)... both Bozeman and Zion should become the OG's and James should slide in as the center. I hope to never see Pipkins at OG again. I was open-minded about Pipkins @RG last season... but think Zion/Boze/James would be better.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I don't want to get flamed for being too nit-picky because overall we all love Joe Hortiz's drafting so far but I think there was a lost opportunity in the 2024 draft. Just as the 2025 draft was the best RB class in many years, the 2024 draft was an outstanding center class, and the time to pick a young center for the future.

Instead of reaching for a total project Justin Eboigbe in round 4 who has yet to contribute anything to the Chargers, Hortiz could have picked a young center for the future who could now be challenging Bozeman in 2025 for the starting center position, or be ready to take over in the season if Bozeman sucks again. Bortolini, Nourzad, Van Pran-Granger, are a few who were available in round 4.

I ask the question, which would help the Chargers more in 2025? The possibility of Eboigbe making significant enough improvement to join the DL rotation or to have a young center going into year 2 poised to take Bozeman's job? Bortolini is already the starting center in Indianapolis