\u201cWhen you change offensive scheme and philosophy, you find players that fit what they want to do,\u201d Hortiz said.<\/p>\n
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 \u201ctailor-made\u201d for McDaniel\u2019s scheme. Fullback Alec Ingold played for McDaniel in Miami for four seasons.<\/p>\n
The Chargers could have done more in free agency. Part of that was homing in on players who fit McDaniel\u2019s vision. Part of that, too, was Hortiz\u2019s philosophy, which he explained Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe in just going out and having a shopping spree,\u201d Hortiz said. \u201cI think free agency is for targeted (signings). You target players that can help what you want to do. That\u2019s how you approach it. You make smart investments in good players.\u201d<\/p>\n
He later added: \u201cI just believe in building through the draft, and I believe in paying the players that you know. That\u2019s how I was raised.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s two seasons.<\/p>\n
Postseason results need to come soon. But one thing is clear: Hortiz is going to stick to his team-building approach.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hortiz said Thursday that the Chargers \u201ccould go out and play a game tomorrow if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I would be shocked if the Chargers came away from this draft without a rookie who could compete for the starting left guard job.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not done on the offensive line,\u201d Hortiz said Thursday. \u201cI can promise that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cmade offers\u201d to both Oweh and Johnson. My understanding is they were far more competitive on Oweh than they were on Johnson.<\/p>\n
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 \u201creports have been positive\u201d on Kennard this offseason as far as him adding mass to his frame.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the draft is really deep with edges,\u201d Hortiz said, \u201cand then there\u2019s some guys that are still out there on the street that might be available after the draft.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Addressing this third edge spot after the draft should be viewed as a last resort. The possibilities are all veteran stopgaps \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
4. During his first answer Thursday, Hortiz said he is \u201cexcited about the draft and knowing that we\u2019re going to be able to add at least five players, hopefully more, to the roster that can help impact it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key words here: \u201cHopefully more.\u201d<\/p>\n
I expect the Chargers to be pretty active<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A trade down could net the Chargers additional capital in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to be ready to draft, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll be, and that\u2019s what we are right now,\u201d Hortiz said. \u201cCertainly, you\u2019ve got to look at every possibility. But to say whether this will be an easy trade-back year, it\u2019s hard to say. It really depends on who is there that teams behind us covet.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Because of Hortiz\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have some flexibility post-draft to still be spenders, to still be trade participants,\u201d Hortiz said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n When asked directly about Lawrence, Hortiz said, \u201cI typically don\u2019t like talking about players on other teams. You guys know that. I\u2019ll say he\u2019s a great player, and I\u2019ll leave it at that.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
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