EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz held his annual pre-draft news conference Thursday at The Bolt, the team’s facility.
It was Hortiz’s first time answering questions publicly from local media since the combine in late February. The initial wave of free agency has come and gone, so there was plenty to dig into with Hortiz, from signings to the state of the roster to draft preparation.
Here is everything important Hortiz said and what it means with the draft approaching.
1. We wrote last month that the Chargers’ free-agency period was a big bet on new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Hortiz echoed that sentiment Thursday, saying that free agency was “absolutely” geared toward building the offense in McDaniel’s vision.
“When you change offensive scheme and philosophy, you find players that fit what they want to do,” Hortiz said.
All the moves on the offensive side of the ball are clear fits in the scheme. Center Tyler Biadasz and guard Cole Strange bring range and movement skills to the interior offensive line. Running back Keaton Mitchell has the speed and explosion to attack the edges on outside zone runs. Tight end Charlie Kolar is an elite run blocker with athleticism. Hortiz said Kolar is “tailor-made” for McDaniel’s scheme. Fullback Alec Ingold played for McDaniel in Miami for four seasons.
The Chargers could have done more in free agency. Part of that was homing in on players who fit McDaniel’s vision. Part of that, too, was Hortiz’s philosophy, which he explained Thursday.
“I don’t believe in just going out and having a shopping spree,” Hortiz said. “I think free agency is for targeted (signings). You target players that can help what you want to do. That’s how you approach it. You make smart investments in good players.”
He later added: “I just believe in building through the draft, and I believe in paying the players that you know. That’s how I was raised.”
When Hortiz was hired in 2025, the Chargers were coming off a 5-12 season, and they were in a miserable position with the salary cap. Hortiz has produced back-to-back 11-win seasons, and the Chargers are now in a healthy position with the cap. The Chargers have also not won a playoff game during Hortiz’s two seasons.
Postseason results need to come soon. But one thing is clear: Hortiz is going to stick to his team-building approach.
2. One position the Chargers did not adequately address in free agency is left guard. They let Zion Johnson walk and sign with the Cleveland Browns. They re-signed Trevor Penning. They also signed Kayode Awosika. To me, left guard is the most pressing need on the roster heading into the draft.
Hortiz said Thursday that the Chargers “could go out and play a game tomorrow if needed.”
When asked who would start at left guard in that hypothetical game, Hortiz first mentioned Penning. Last season, Penning played tackle and right guard for the Chargers. He did not play left guard, though he started at that position for the Saints in 2025 before the Chargers traded for him at the deadline.
I would be shocked if the Chargers came away from this draft without a rookie who could compete for the starting left guard job.
“We’re not done on the offensive line,” Hortiz said Thursday. “I can promise that.”
3. The second most pressing need is edge rusher. The Chargers were unable to re-sign Odafe Oweh, who left to join the Washington Commanders. Hortiz said the Chargers “made offers” to both Oweh and Johnson. My understanding is they were far more competitive on Oweh than they were on Johnson.
As of now, the Chargers have not replaced Oweh, an instrumental piece in 2025 as the third edge rusher alongside Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. They have Bud Dupree on the roster. Kyle Kennard is coming off a disappointing rookie season. Hortiz said the “reports have been positive” on Kennard this offseason as far as him adding mass to his frame.
“I think the draft is really deep with edges,” Hortiz said, “and then there’s some guys that are still out there on the street that might be available after the draft.”
The Chargers should be looking to address edge at some point in the first two days of the draft. That could be as high as No. 22. But as Hortiz alluded to, there are options all the way through their pick at No. 86 in third round.
Addressing this third edge spot after the draft should be viewed as a last resort. The possibilities are all veteran stopgaps — Joey Bosa, Cameron Jordan, Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd. The Chargers need to get younger at edge, with Mack entering his age-35 season.
4. During his first answer Thursday, Hortiz said he is “excited about the draft and knowing that we’re going to be able to add at least five players, hopefully more, to the roster that can help impact it.”
The key words here: “Hopefully more.”
I expect the Chargers to be pretty active in trying to move down from No. 22 in the first round. They, of course, have to find someone willing to trade up to make that happen.
The primary motivation is that the Chargers only have five picks. They traded their fifth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for Oweh last season. They traded their seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Elijah Molden in 2024.
A trade down could net the Chargers additional capital in 2026.
“You have to be ready to draft, and that’s what we’ll be, and that’s what we are right now,” Hortiz said. “Certainly, you’ve got to look at every possibility. But to say whether this will be an easy trade-back year, it’s hard to say. It really depends on who is there that teams behind us covet.”
5. Because of Hortiz’s approach in free agency, the Chargers are still swimming in cap space. Even factoring for in-season costs, the Chargers have over $30 million to spend, based on figures from Over the Cap.
“We have some flexibility post-draft to still be spenders, to still be trade participants,” Hortiz said.
The trade component of this is interesting. The Chargers are positioned to take on a pretty big veteran cap number on the trade market. An intriguing name that could be available is New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
When asked directly about Lawrence, Hortiz said, “I typically don’t like talking about players on other teams. You guys know that. I’ll say he’s a great player, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Lawrence would cost $20 million against the cap in a trade, according to Over the Cap. The Chargers could certainly do a deal from a financial standpoint. Would they be willing to part with the necessary draft capital when they only have five picks? They also would most likely need to extend Lawrence. There are numerous players already on the roster right now in line for lucrative extensions either this offseason or next.
If Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence goes on the trade market, could he be an option for the Chargers, who have the cap space to afford him? (Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
6. Earlier this week, we wrote about why trading Quentin Johnston for a moderate draft-pick return would be illogical. On Thursday, Hortiz made it quite clear that the Chargers have not engaged in trade talks on Johnston, who is on the final year of his rookie deal.
“I have made zero calls about Quentin, and I’ve had zero calls regarding Quentin,” Hortiz said.
The Chargers have to make a decision on Johnston’s fifth-year option by May 1. Hortiz said the team is “still discussing” that decision. Johnston makes sense at his $2.68 million base salary for 2026. He does not make as much sense on a projected $18 million fifth-year option in 2027. My guess is the Chargers choose not to exercise this option before the deadline.
“Watching him get better year after year after year,” Hortiz said of Johnston.
7. Hortiz said the Chargers have begun contract extension talks with Tuipulotu and safety Derwin James. Both are entering the final years of their deals.
On Tuipulotu, Hortiz said he is “looking forward to getting into that, but right now the focus is on the draft.” On James, Hortiz said those talks will “heat up after the draft.”
8. When it comes to piecing together the offensive line for 2026, the Chargers need both of their star tackles back and playing at an elite level. Rashawn Slater missed all of last season with a torn patellar tendon. Joe Alt suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9.
Hortiz said both players are “ahead of schedule” in their rehab processes. He added that Slater and Alt will “be involved in some capacity” during spring practices. The Chargers open their offseason program Monday.
“There’s no need to rush it,” Hortiz said. “So let them come back, let them be healthy, and the target is for the start of training camp.”
The Chargers re-signed Trey Pipkins III as their swing tackle. When asked about possibly drafting a tackle at No. 22, Hortiz was pretty explicit about his intentions.
“If there’s a college tackle that we’re taking at 22, we feel like he can move inside,” Hortiz said.
The need is at left guard.
9. Behind left guard and edge, you could make a case for a number of positions as the next most pressing need for the Chargers. I see three positions in the mix: receiver, cornerback and interior defensive line.
Hortiz said Thursday that Scott Matlock, who has played both offense and defense for the Chargers, is being viewed as a fullback/tight end by the new offensive staff. That means the Chargers are really four deep on the interior of the defensive line: Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin Eboigbe and Jamaree Caldwell. They could certainly add a fifth piece here.
At cornerback, Hortiz said the Chargers “really want to find outside corners.” James plays nickel. Tarheeb Still can play nickel. So can Nikko Reed, an undrafted free agent last year. More competition and depth on the outside makes sense.
Hortiz said the Chargers are “really excited about the guys” in the receiver room. That includes Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Tre’ Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
“We got the draft,” Hortiz added. “We’ll go through the draft, see how it is and then see what happens out of the draft and then continue discussions. There are a number of guys out there that are still available, so I wouldn’t say the room is complete.”
Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel and Tyreek Hill are unsigned veteran receivers with scheme familiarity. Hortiz also did not rule out a reunion with Keenan Allen.