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

[CanadianBoltFan]

Would anyone be opposed to Omarion Hampton, Mason Taylor, and Jaydin Higgins...?
I'm a trencher... but it's time to get Herbie some weapons. It's time to run the ball the way Harbaugh/Roman want to run the ball.
Fix the IOL via free agency. Go get yourself some young, cheap RB, TE, WR.

The FA market for RB's is usually not good. Their shelf-life is short. The FA market for TE's usually doesn't exist. Teams hold on to their good ones. The FA market for WR's is over-inflated. Meanwhile, quality IOL move from team to team relatively cheaply. We have 2 of the best OT's a team could ask for... and we finally have enough money to get 2 of the best free agent IOL's.

You could wait until the mid/late rounds to get "playmakers"... but those guys are mid/late round for a reason. Haven't tried that route already... Palmer, Vidal, McKitty, Spiller, Kelley, Reed, Hill.... Go cheap on WR, RB, and TE and you are doing yourself (and Herbert) a dis-service. This team is supposed to be built around Herbert. Give him something better than he has. Yes, that includes IOL. But get it done via free agency. Now is the time.

I would love the 3 some but I really dont think Higgins is there at 86. I thnk he is a 2nd round pick after a really good combine

[Boltinloudguy]

I just know the Chargers have the cap space to make a few solid moves this offseason that can augment the draft class of last year and this years. Putting them on a trajectory to compete with the Chiefs for the AFC Title. And yes, it will take a good draft class. It will take finding a couple of older vets on the cheap on make good deals that bounce back. But that is what happens

The Chargers cannot solve all their woes with one free agent class - and I don't think they should try. But in free agency - they can

DLine: sign Mack to the right kind of contract or sign a player like Odeybingo, maybe a player like Allen if released and bring back Poona Ford
IOL: Guard and Center, maybe one high priced and one lower priced but both upgrades
WR: I think Adams is the ideal target but would be okay with a lesser X receiver like Slayton, NWI, Mike Williams, maybe Cooper at the right price
TE: Juwan Johnson perhaps, maybe Engram

Fill in the rest with lower cost players and see what the draft brings

I forgot that Engram was available and won’t count against the compensatory formula now. I might take him over Juwan Johnson. He stays healthy and he’s a weapon.

[Boltinloudguy]

I would love the 3 some but I really dont think Higgins is there at 86. I thnk he is a 2nd round pick after a really good combine

Higgins at 55 would be awesome IMO.

[richpjr]

We know the IOL is a complete mess and needs to be addressed. I saw the comments about experimenting with Zion at center. Does anyone have any faith at all that he is capable of doing it? I know there was talk when he was drafted that he could eventually move to center but after watching him struggle at guard and unable to grasp how to pick up a stunt, it just seems like a disaster waiting to happen, even if he had an entire camp to prepare.

I think it would be a massive mistake to not sign a FA or draft someone for center.

[Icebolt]

they went Alt Over BOWERS!.... Nabors was not the next player on their list.... Nabors was on many fans and fantasy players list who dont understand the differnecemaking impact a great TE makes????.... really wierd that people still dont see how Kelsy and Gronk were the main clutch targets for several SB winning teams that did not hve elite WR's.....

obsession with WR's is a very wierd thing.... great QB's and great TE';s and great pass rushes(that affect great QB;s)....are what wins SB's.....

Maybe it had something to do with who their QB was!!

[Jack Burton]

You do enough in free agency - to allow the draft to not be about filling need. Post draft, you have some money left for veterans to patch your roster.

Exactly. Nailed it.

[Jack Burton]

I forgot that Engram was available and won’t count against the compensatory formula now. I might take him over Juwan Johnson. He stays healthy and he’s a weapon.

Yeah, I like that idea. Is he fully healthy?
I also like Pairing him or Juwon Johnson with Oronde Gadsden. Similar TE’s.

[Icebolt]

I getting a tingling feeling about the Chargers maybe be highly interested in and EDGE rusher in Rd.1 or Rd.2. There are a lot of good ones and if the guy Hortiz likes is there....
They can always get beef later
What do you think?

[dmac_bolt]

I think the Chargers can be pragmatic in free agency with cap space but still improve the roster. And you are correct, I don't want them signing guys to multiple year deals just to sign players. They have to be the right players to long term deals. Otherwise sign players to one year deals to keep future cap space

As for more holes -- Hortiz will sign players. How is moving on from Pipkins and Bozeman creating holes - its improving the roster. Replacing Palmer at WR is not creating a hole - its potentially improving the roster.

As for bringing guys back - Molden might be the only one worth bringing back. Ford and Mack want to test the market.

Pipkins and Boze are already huge gaping holes, you can't create a new hole where the hole already exists. TPB would not be 100% unanimous that IOL upgrade is 2025 JOB ONE if this were not so obviously true. We can't even agree 100% on burritos here.

Molden is already back.

Chargers have enough cap + draft picks to make a big step up. We were in the playoffs last year, I predict we will be in the playoffs again and how far they go ... idunno tbd, we need to see the team on the field and how they develop over the season. Could be a runnerup again or they could surprise, that takes a little luck in getting a higher success hit rate on replacements - it happens, magic happens. I can't wait!

[Boltx]

Yeah, I like that idea. Is he fully healthy?
I also like Pairing him or Juwon Johnson with Oronde Gadsden. Similar TE’s.

Engram would be a great pickup.

[Bolt4Knob]

Pipkins and Boze are already huge gaping holes, you can't create a new hole where the hole already exists. TPB would not be 100% unanimous that IOL upgrade is 2025 JOB ONE if this were not so obviously true. We can't even agree 100% on burritos here.

Molden is already back.

Chargers have enough cap + draft picks to make a big step up. We were in the playoffs last year, I predict we will be in the playoffs again and how far they go ... idunno tbd, we need to see the team on the field and how they develop over the season. Could be a runnerup again or they could surprise, that takes a little luck in getting a higher success hit rate on replacements - it happens, magic happens. I can't wait!

You said it better - thats what I mean. Boze and Pipkins were needing to be replaced. The 2024 version of Bosa was good but the Chargers are not replacing the 2017-2020 version of Bosa, they are replacing the 2024 version. Perryman, when healthy, solid player, not healthy, needs to upgraded. Hoping Colson can step in but still need a veteran

IOL is the key -- but that doesn't mean that will be the first move - but it needs to be addressed

[electricgold]

I getting a tingling feeling about the Chargers maybe be highly interested in and EDGE rusher in Rd.1 or Rd.2. There are a lot of good ones and if the guy Hortiz likes is there....
They can always get beef later
What do you think?

If we go D in round 1 the only player I would be completely happy with would be Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Because last season we were short a very good 3rd Safety most of the season and I think he'd be great in our D. Very big IF he'll be on the board at 22 tho. Grant in round 1 I would be happy with, but not completely happy.

Otherwise skilled weapons for Herbert at 1 or bust. A DE in round 2 or 3 all day everyday!