In the coming days, I’ll be doing brief synopses for each NFL team regarding their current cap situation and offseason approach they should take.
We’ll start with the teams that have the most cap space available, then work our way down to those teams who have less cap space, to those who have work to do to gain cap space.
Each synopsis will look at cap space (or how much over the cap), players under contract, total draft picks, any players with a fifth-year option decision ahead and notes about the most notable free agent, the most likely player cut and the quarterback situation.
Let’s now look at the Los Angeles Chargers.
Players under contract for 2026: 51
Projected cap space: $80.6M
Total draft picks: Five (No. 22 in first round)
Most notable free agent: Odafe Oweh
Most likely roster cut: Mekhi Becton
Fifth-year option decision: Quentin Johnson
Quarterback situation: Justin Herbert is the unquestioned starter.
The ideal offseason approach:
The Chargers have reached the playoffs in both years of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure but have yet to win a playoff game. Given the cap space the Chargers have, they may be aggressive when it comes to free agency.
Because the Chargers lack draft capital, it’s not likely they will trade picks for players, but they could certainly swing big in free agency in hopes of finding players that could help them make a deep playoff run.
Oweh is a good player but he may not be worth the franchise tag. The Chargers could re-sign him if they wish. As for Johnston, the Chargers have to determine if he’s worth the fifth-year option (projected to be $18M for him) or if they are better off trading him for draft capital.