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The “no splash signings” philosophy intact so far.
Re-sign Khalil.
Man, who’s left? Clayton? Keenan?
@66_jimbo Kupp, Cooper, Godwin, Slayton but honestly none move the needle for me. I would rather trade up for Warren or Loveland at this point and/or target WR in the first two rounds. If they don’t add a major piece to the passing offense it will be borderline organizational malpractice.
@evolz3737 There will also be the secondary market, but there certainly won’t be any WR1s there. But a depth guy might be available on the cheap. I think that second wave of FA is going to be where Hortiz goes fishing for a good chunk of this year’s roster.
@smith Some options I could see the Chargers pursuing:
- Attempting to trade for Aiyuk. If Hortiz offered something for Metcalf but got outbid, it’s possible there’s appetite to chase a different quality WR1 who’s had some issues with their front office.
- Amari Cooper. More name than game at this stage of his career, but they need some kind of plan at X or else they’re going to have to draft one.
- Darius Slayton. We’re one of three teams reportedly keen on him.
- Diontae Johnson. It would be underwhelming but he can play in the Slot when Ladd pushes outside, and we know Hortiz was somewhat interested in him around the trade deadline last year.
@alisterlloyd Aiyuk contract is absurd and he shredded his knee, hard pass. Agree Cooper is washed. Johnson just wore out his welcome with 3 teams in a year with one of them being the Ravens. I can’t imagine a world where John would give his recommendation for him. Slayton is an upgrade to the room overall, but still not the true WR1 this team needs. Adams was the perfect fit. Not sure what we offered, but maybe the Pop Tart image came home to roost? Godwin is not the answer either in case anyone brings him up. This is looking more and more like a mid tier WR signing and a draft pick.
@evolz3737 IMO Godwin is a good target at this point. You don’t say your reason for not wanting him, but I’d rather have him than all other veteran free agent options I am aware of.
@evolz3737 I’m not as down on the situation as you are.
I expect us to go trench heavy in the draft, even though we lost the opportunity to add Adams and Metcalf.
If we got an upgraded IOL, dependable RB’s and some recieving help (WR and TE), although no WR1, then I’m good.
McMillan is also higher on my wishlist now if he drops to 1.22.
@bolt_dk My frustration is that it seems this regime still wants to be a ground and pound team, but when they realized that wasn’t working last year, they asked Herbert to make chicken salad out of chicken shit. I figured they would have been fully aware of the deficiencies in the passing offense by the way last season ended and had decided to make a conscious effort to build around Herbert. We were led to believe the limitations were due to lack of last off seasons finances. If they weren’t willing to spend any of the 90M they suffered through last season to acquire, or to part with the draft picks they built up what was the sense of having it? It’s like the poor person that wins the lottery but he still prefers to eat PBJ every day and live in a shithole. Look, I’m not for breaking the bank and splurging during free agency every year, but there’s a time to step up to the plate and take a swing and Hortiz is still in the on deck circle.
Mack is back (great news!), the top of the WR market is getting quickly poached (bad news), and I’m anxiously awaiting to see if Hortiz is going to run the two massive red lights I see right now. Those are: Bozeman, at this early date, is the presumptive starting center and Pipkins still has a role on the team. As I think about it more, I see the team letting Pipkins finish his contract either as the swing tackle and/or the backup to Salyer and Zion. $9 is a big number for a reserve, but it’d be better than watching him start again.
They simply cannot go into this season with that interior line. Those 3 (all 3 of them) were amongst the worst rated lineman in the league. Can’t happen.
@66_jimbo There’s no way the front office doesn’t see what’s painfully obvious to even the most casual fan. However, there aren’t any great options at center via FA or draft so they’ll have to look at upgrading the guard position(s). Unfortunately, because of Zion’s first-round status, they may run him back one more time which leaves only the RG spot open for an upgrade. Would a reliable RG alone really elevate this group to be a top-5 unit? Doubtful. This is a really frustrating scenario.
@smith The funny thing is that Zion is A VERY SMART individual. Master’s level in crypto courses etc. Now, how much of the problem was Bozeman? Does Zion’s intelligence not translate to on-field awareness?
@66_jimbo If you would’ve told me a week ago that the team with Jordan McFadden would sign Chris Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson I would’ve thought the Chargers were in business. Didn’t dream it would’ve been the Bears.
Maybe they don’t view this Free Agency period as a difference maker and want to roll over a bunch of cap for next year and continue to dumpster dive again in FA?
@evolz3737 To be fair, given last year’s cap situation they found some dumpster gems, some/all of which they may now lose (e.g. Poona). So a LOT of the good pickups are already gone, so what’s the plan NOW? Can you build a SB roster from cast-offs?
@66_jimbo Maybe that’s the plan. They can rename the team The Fightin’ Harbaughs. The eternal under dogs.
Poona is gone, that’s a big blow. Between that and Adams, Rams are getting the guys I was really hoping to see and on contracts that seem reasonable too.
@evolz3737 Rams are building exactly what I would like to see along their D line. 4/5 of it drafted in last two years with top 100 picks (One 1st, One high 2nd, and two 3rds) and they didn’t really miss on any of those picks and now adding Poona Ford to that.
@blue-beers They are such a weird team, man.
They make the great signings like Adams and Ford.
But they also had the worst signing of 2024 IMO, Jonah Jackson, who’s already been shipped off (can’t believe the Bears doubled down on that mistake and gave them compensation!) at the Tutu Atwell signing for $10M.
They are really banking on Atwell’s yards/RR extrapolating in a larger role.
What the hell is happening folks? I get not spending cap space like a drunken sailor, but when does it become irresponsible not re-signing your or other free agents when you have so many FAs outgoing? Make it make sense.
Are we getting the band back together? I initially said no thanks to all Keenan return, but with whose left as FA I’m now more in the “why not?” camp. As always, money matters but the rapport is there and, but for serious cap issues last year, Keenan likely would have never left. Sooooo….green light.
@buck-melanoma It would help create a floor with the WR group and still not prevent a rookie WR from being drafted should it lineup that way.
Ladd and KA are your 1-2 on a given down, QJ and MW chase the reps at X and DD is the Returner and Screen/5th WR. A rookie would be pushing QJ/MW for the spot on the active roster and in a best-case, push KA to the WR3 role.
Also shows the need to have a real threat at TE for Justin for those WRs.
@duck07 This would be the group:
- X1 Williams
- Slot/Z McConkey
- Slot/Z Keenan
- X/Z QJ
- Gadget Davis
- X/Z Reagor?
- X Rice?
Maybe also a utility/special teams player (at least on 90 man roster) like Fehoko.
I don’t think the Chargers would or should draft a WR with that group in place, at least not before 6th/7th round, meaning the rookie WR would be competing for the last WR roster spot.
Generally speaking, what is better on 3rd down:
- X Williams, Z QJ, Slot McConkey
- X Williams, Z McConkey, Slot Keenan
I think #2 is obviously superior. As Buck said, the money has to be right, and that means a huge pay cut for Keenan. Is he willing? If so, I would definitely bring him back. How could it be a bad thing for McConkey to get to observe how Keenan prepares and plays?
Tyler Conklin visiting
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