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

[Boltjolt]

If Badass is actually healthy enough to play, he’s the better player. December injury + surprise cut for not really that much cap relief = big question

Biadasz two years ago was a OC i had mentioned for us to sign as it wasnt a great FA OC class but they got Bozeman after Biadask was signed. So im not down on Biadasz. I wouldnt mind him but he had the knee issue last and id prefer Linderbaum OR McGovern first. But as Steve pointed out, we can sign him now as opposed to waiting.

If they wait, i hope its because they have had some agent dialog with one of the others. I know that tampering but you damn well know its being done by others. lol.

[Bolt4Knob]

I just read this, came here to see if had been posted. Per usual, Mr. Popper has his finger on the pulse of the Chargers. I think he knows what is going on with this team better than any other sports journalist.

Popper is on it. I agree. I think the titans or raiders will sign Zion if he leaves. They have the cap space and could be desperate

I think Popper was right about Delshawn Phillips. Something like 12/3 - he was such an asset on special teams and even LB depth.

[CanadianBoltFan]

One strategy that Hortiz could possibly use - is if he is hearing Zion and Oweh are really going to get paid -- is use the shorter term fixes like you suggest, two year deals, and draft the replacement without the long term cap ramifications
For instance
Biadasz - -short term deal, still pretty young, but draft OC - released so not part of the cap pick
Guards -- maybe you bring back Zion or say a player like Elgton Jenkins is released - an other short term deal, released, not part of the cap pick
Edge: Oweh , some team might just overpay, like Bonitto or more money, bring back Mack, sign Chubb and draft Edge

Get your comp pick for Oweh if Hortiz plays out the rest of free agency correctly and still keep cap space for the future but improving the IOL

I like the idea od signing someone like a Biadasz for a reasonable price and then drafting a Logan Jones in the 4th. I think Hecht, Slaughter, Lew go in 3rd although Jones could slay the Combine on Sunday

[Xenos]

Raiders and Titans have a bunch of cap space and needs at IOL as well

I agree with Popper - as much of a need the Chargers have, cannot be stupid about it either and overpay for average players. Zion was below average

Oweh was very good - but he also had the perfect set up with Tuli and Mack.

Hortiz should be talking to Chubb and Biadasz agents today

Shoot…I forgot that the counter argument to what I stated was that the cap went up much higher this year than expected. So players will get overpaid.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Your language implied that we were using euphemisms and exaggerations to make our points. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

1) The cupboard is bare @IOL. You have Ben Cleveland and Branson Taylor at guard. You have Josh Kaltenberger at center. Bare. We don't even know if those guys are a fit for McD's wide zone scheme.
2) The only All Pro is Rashawn Slater. Joe Alt may get there one day. As you may have heard, both got hurt last year. Finding a legitimate swing tackle should be one of Hortiz's goals. Because the cupboard is bare @swing. And I'm not talking about drafting/moving a guard over to tackle... you only create another hole along your OL.
3) The best possible move we can make along the OL is to bring over 2 guys that consistently score in the high 60's... low 70's for pff. Neither one of them are All-Pro. However, they have run wide zone. They have worked side-by-side for a few years. They were part of an OL that helped their team run for more yardage than any other team this last year. Cups meet cupboard.
4) Mike McDaniel has no magic fairy dust he sprinkles over offenses. His scoring offense finished 22nd and 25th the last 2 years. In both years, Roman's scoring offenses were better. You need players... first and foremost.
5) I've done the math (for the 100th time)... and we can easily improve the team at almost every position... even while massively upgrading the personnel along the IOL. I've even posted multiple solutions, multiple times, using the OTC cap calculator. I can do it again if you need clarification.

Well said as usual

We should also keep in mind....with the new offensive scheme...the Chargers don't necessarily have to find or sign the best and highest paid linemen, they will be looking for IOL that fit their zone scheme the best

[Boltjolt]

Someone said I was exaggerating about folks foaming about not having All Pro’s at every OL position. 😂

Incidentally, nobody, including me, ever said get below average IOL.

Do the math. If you have the two best OT’s in the league and even average IOL, it already elevates you past midpoint and likely top 10.

!et me clarify for the 100th time. I would like to see Hortiz get an above average IOL but not blow the wad on IOL to the extent we can’t improve the rest of the team.

Slater and Alt are coming back and McDaniel is scheming the offense. That’s already an IMMENSE improvement over what we had the last two years.

You guys act like the cupboard is bare.

The cupboard IS bare. If you think it isnt, id guess there's plenty of room in you're pantry.

[Velo]

Popper is on it. I agree. I think the titans or raiders will sign Zion if he leaves. They have the cap space and could be desperate

I think Popper was right about Delshawn Phillips. Something like 12/3 - he was such an asset on special teams and even LB depth.

He also says he believes Mack will return for another season. One of my concerns about Oweh is over-paying for him. His body of work as an elite player is relatively small, just the 2nd half of the 2025 season in Jesse Minter's defense. Will he sustain that? One would like to think so, but there's also reason for skepticism. If he's getting outrageous offers Hortiz doesn't want to match, I wouldn't be heart-broken if some other team overpays for him. This draft seems to be deep in pass rushing talent in the low 1st and 2nd round.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I still don’t think Zion will get something that high given the OL market is better this year than last year.

Yikes I am not sure about 25 mil for Oweh. He has has one good spurt in his career

[Bolt4Knob]

He also says he believes Mack will return for another season. One of my concerns about Oweh is over-paying for him. His body of work as an elite player is relatively small, just the 2nd half of the 2025 season in Jesse Minter's defense. Will he sustain that? One would like to think so, but there's also reason for skepticism. If he's getting outrageous offers Hortiz doesn't want to match, I wouldn't be heart-broken if some other team overpays for him. This draft seems to be deep in pass rushing talent in the low 1st and 2nd round.

Plus, Oweh was with Tuli and Mack. And I think those three players skillset complement each of the other two players so well. So when I mentioned if Mack leaves but Oweh and Tuli are there, the player to get would fit more of Macks skillset and not Owehs.

Zion was improved but his best play was weeks 13 to 18 and he was poor in the playoffs
Oweh - very good for the latter part of the year but I think part of his success was the infrastructure around him on defense. I am leery about overpaying for both.

But Mack back, that seems good to me

[dmac_bolt]

Thoughts on Seumaloto replace Zion?, former Steelers guard. Hes 32, but had impressive pass block win rate last year. Obviously would be a very short term stop gap. I’m still hoping for McGovern at center and Ioane in the first round.

He’s a good shorter term fix target, I favor it to give Joe time to draft for longer term. Whether its LG (Zion) or RG - idunno?

[Bolt4Knob]

Cap was finalized at $301,200,000

Chargers should be around $85 to 86m
plenty of money
still have to be smart about it and Zion at over 20 would not be smart

[Boltjolt]

I’m in on this! Especially the bring Mack back, sign Chubb and draft an Edge in the first 2 rounds (Leaning Dennis-Sutton at the moment).

Also in on signing Biadasz. I’d also go out and sign Wyatt Teller to play RG, trade back and draft Chase Bisontis to play LG. Then you can sign some depth pieces along the IOL like James Daniels, Cole Strange and Will Hernandez. Draft Logan Jones in the 4th for depth and to take over Biadasz spot in 2-3 years.

Teller would cancel out 1 comp pick but they would get a good comp for either Zion or Oweh.

Will Hernandez is 30,...not that he is old but @ 30, he weighs 332 lbs. Not exactly a zone guy and he has a 45 PFF grade last season (77th of 81). When he was young at the combine his 3 cone was a slow 7.59 then. Equally bad at Pass Pro and Run blocking. Hard PASS.

I know we want better depth but guys like him are well below average and Teller fell off last season as well, not sure if he had nagging injuries tho. I know its difficult as many teams need OL help, just hope we are on that early and i hope to get guys at least in the average range of 60 (55-60) for backups and above it for starters. Teller was a 62. So not against him, just hope we can get better.

Chubb could be a 1 year deal type depending if we lose Oweh and or Mack. I like Chubb but he is just hurt alot. When healthy he is a upgrade to Dupree.