2026 Draft Superthread And Draft Prospect Discussion

[electricgold]

So after offensive line play single handedly derailed the season last year, going into this off season with the 2nd most cap space in the NFL at 100 million....you don't think there is the budget to improve the guard position?

They signed a center for 10 million and every single other signing was one 8 million and mostly under. I get it that some FA signings are over priced and best avoided (Zion) but at some point you might have to spend the market rate to improve the biggest weakness on your team..if maybe I don't know...you want to get serious about winning the division for the first time in 17 years?

The one I need explained to me is Elgin Jenkins now that it has been reported that the Chargers were interested and looked into signing him. You are loaded with cap, looking to contend next year....and you lose the best solution to the Cleveland Browns....the fucking hapless Browns??? One reason only for that...Hortiz was too cheap to pay the market rate. A 2 year deal at 12 million for a zone fit that has played at Pro Bowl level would not have killed the budget. Then you have LG locked down...you draft a Rutledge or Parker in round 3 to compete with Strange at RG...the loser join Penning as sold depth and we are good to go.

That would have been a serious move by a contender. One outside free agent at 12 million to shore up the biggest weakness is not reckless spending.

We just may have to accept that Hortiz may be just too closed minded to be a good GM in the league. This season will be very telling. If they finish the season the same way as the last two years, it will be too late, because Hortiz has done the same thing now for his 3rd off season. HE just doesn't seem too adaptable. IF they actually offered Pierce the most money from every team that my change perception slightly.

However he let our two biggest free agents go, Oweh and Zion (who apparently Harbaugh loved, and fits MM's system)! And traded two draft picks for nothing to show for it. You don't trade a 5th round pick mid season and then let that player go 6 months later.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Seattle didn't spend a lot last year. They signed Darnold and a 32 million LB Jones. Darnold at 3 /100 mil is cheap.

Fact, Seattle spent the 4th most in free agency last year. NE spent 1st.

To be clear, i am not for going crazy in FA and am fine with the Raven build through the draft model...but there needs to be flexibility for the odd signing or move to take the next level. The best GMs..the Rosemans, the Sneads etc do this

[electricgold]

Hmmm, So they did. NE spent a shit ton too. They were #1 almost twice as much but it goes to show, ....at # 2 and is Min and NYG @ 3 and they both sucked. Getting the right guys means more than what you spend.
Who knows if Strange is the right guy but Teller and apparently Seaumalo was not.
We
were 20th.

agree! You don't have to be the #1 spender, but when you're a playoff Calibur team, there's a middle ground and if you're smart you can sign the right players that could put you over the top. Simply looking for value players and protecting comp picks, then hoping rookies will come in and be the different does sort of seem like it's making things harder than they have to be. So far anyways. We'll see what happens this time.

But after the beating Herbert took last season, it might not of been a bad idea to sign some outside of our team Olineman that are tried and proven, other than Penning and PIPKINS! Its called cutting your loses.

[Velo]

However he let our two biggest free agents go, Oweh and Zion!

The deals these two got are being widely criticized around the league as egregious overpays, and you're criticizing Hortiz for not paying them? He deserves praise not criticism for his restraint.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Haven't read that anywhere. Have read the opinion that guards are not as valuable as other positions in his system, which I think is being confused with McDaniel and many from the Shanahan coaching tree doing so well with adapting to situations that don't start off as ideal. He and others from the Shanahan tree have also taken guards who haven't succeeded in other systems but were able to thrive in the Shanahan/McVay offense. Laken Tomlinson and Kevin Dotson are two examples of guards who didn't make it with the teams that drafted them but found success with Shanahan/McDaniel and McVay. Considering Cole Strange improved as the season went along with McDaniel last year, I don't see the harm in giving him a shot to compete for right guard in this offense. As an offensive coordinator, McDaniel has earned the right to bring in the players he wants for his system, and Strange just may be as successful as Tomlinson was for the 49ers and Dotson has been for the Rams. McDaniel, Hortiz, Harbaugh, and the rest of the coaching don't have to do what anyone on this forum wants, and I'm glad that they haven't with the guards who got overpaid this offseason.

Don't disagree with anything you said..except that I have read much on here that guards are not important in MM's system...which i think is a stretch.

You could be right about Strange and I am open to that. I just wanted to see more bases covered ...like as you say have Strange compete at RG...but right now we have Strange and Penning as starters with Branson Taylor as back up....and only 5 draft picks and a few needs to fill.

I am not into overpaying for guards like Zion got. But the prices overall were more reasonable than last year for guards when they were stupid. 12 million for a legitimate starter is not outrageous. If you will not pay market rate, and will only pay 6.5 , the very bottom pay scale for an NFL starting guard then you will only have bottom level starters.

[electricgold]

The deals these two got are being widely criticized around the league as egregious overpays, and you're criticizing Hortiz for not paying them? He deserves praise not criticism for his restraint.

Surprise the cap went up, and the cost of the better players did too! IF guys are blowing up our IOL again and we have non sufficient pass rush with what we have and we are losing more games this season Hortiz will not be getting any praise from me, and probably there will be a lot of people calling for his job.

Hortiz traded a 5th round pick for Oweh for a reason. Should of just kept the 5th and rolled with who we had instead of using it for a rent a player for a few games.

I love making the playoffs two seasons in a row and 11 win season because we have a great QB and HC. But I can't stand being a one and done team. It pisses me off. Its like fools gold with a capital F.

[sonorajim]

Joe's Raven approach is only going to take him so far.

At some point if he wants to join the Super Bowl teams he might have to not be afraid to spend some money on a FA over 8 million or make a big move that other teams do to put them over the top.

There has to be flexibility from the plan at certain times.

We are not the Ravens. Doing something similar to what Ravens have done in the past is inevitable. He grew up in their system where they won two Super Bowls and made the playoffs a Lot. Not necessarily a bad record, to be honest. I wish him well. For the most obvious reason.

[CanadianBoltFan]

The deals these two got are being widely criticized around the league as egregious overpays, and you're criticizing Hortiz for not paying them? He deserves praise not criticism for his restraint.

Zion was overpaid and under-perfomed..totally good with that restraint

But overall the guard market was not that outrageous this year. You could have upgraded ZIon for 12 million...unless you simply refuse to pay the market rate and will only bargain shop...while also restricted because you care more about your comp picks than your franchise QBs health.

[sonorajim]

Surprise the cap went up, and the cost of the better players did too! IF guys are blowing up our IOL again and we have non sufficient pass rush with what we have and we are losing more games this season Hortiz will not be getting any praise from me, and probably there will be a lot of people calling for his job.

Hortiz traded a 5th round pick for Oweh for a reason.

Your opinion of off season moves and real time results are two different things.
If the Chargers look like crap in reality and fail to win in the 2026 post season due to Joe's off season choices.
I will join the multitudes of unhappy Chargers fans.
Currently, the team looks very good with the draft and some FA cap remaining. Looking forward to the coming season personally.
GO BOLTS!

[electricgold]

Your opinion of off season moves and real time results are two different things.
If the Chargers look like crap in reality and fail to win in the 2026 post season due to Joe's off season choices.
I will join the multitudes of unhappy Chargers fans.
Currently, the team looks very good with the draft and some FA cap remaining. Looking forward to the coming season personally.
GO BOLTS!

And I'm looking forward to the season as well! Its just after the beating Herbert took last season, and the thought of having to see that again based on the choices Hortiz made or didn't make this off season is a key factor in everything. There is realistically a chance Pipkins could once again be our starting OT in the playoffs or in must win games, and this doesn't sit so well with me. Especially with Jim proclaiming we have to protect our QB!

IF Hortiz goes another draft and ignores the IOL and dept along the line, I throw my hands up.

[sonorajim]

And I'm looking forward to the season as well! Its just after the beating Herbert took last season, and the thought of having to see that again based on the choices Hortiz made or didn't make this off season is a key factor in everything. There is realistically a chance Pipkins could once again be our starting OT in the playoffs or in must win games, and this doesn't sit so well with me. Especially with Jim proclaiming we have to protect our QB!

IF Hortiz goes another draft and ignores the IOL and dept along the line, I throw my hands up.

Don't imagine that. The roster isn't complete, true and won't be, probably not 'till late August. The draft is a big deal.
The worst things about our IOL have been upgraded already. Boze, Becton, Roman, Devlin. Pretending that isn't a major improvement is the result of an overactive imagination.

[Jack Burton]

Seattle didn't spend a lot last year. They signed Darnold and a 32 million LB Jones. Darnold at 3 /100 mil is cheap.

What about trading draft pick for Shaheed and then paying him?