The NFL draft is a mere 22 days away, but there’s still some veteran talent available on the open market.
Hence, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report assigned an available free agent to each one of the 32 teams. When it came to Jim Harbaugh’s club, the area of choice was obvious.Top of Form
“The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs last year,” said Davenport, “but they did so more in spite of the offensive line than because of it. The return from injury of tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will help, but after the Chargers released Mekhi Becton and Zion Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns, the guard spots in Los Angeles are now a significant question mark.”
Chargers adding G Cole Strange was a questionable move
Sep 14, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange (69) looks on before a game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
As of now, former Patriots’ first-round pick Cole Strange is the choice on the right side via a two-year contract. He played for the Dolphins in 2025, and is certainly familiar with new Chargers’ offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The four-year pro is a somewhat underwhelming addition, if you take into account that he’s the 57th-ranked guard on Pro Football Focus’ list.
“With the third-most cap space ($48.7 million via OverTheCap) in the league,” added Davenport, “money isn’t an issue for the Chargers where adding a lineman is concerned. The dearth of plus starters available is another matter, but there are some aging veterans available who could at least offer a short-term fix.”
There’s a 14-year pro still available who has started 213-of-214 regular season contests for a total of six different franchises. He’s 11th on PFF’s rankings for his position, and tied for ninth when it comes to pass-blocking.
Veteran G Kevin Zeitler remains on the open market
Tennessee Titans guard Kevin Zeitler (70) heads for the locker room after mandatory Titans Minicamp at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 10, 2025. | Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“There was a time when Kevin Zeitler was considered one of the league’s best right guards,” explained Davenport. “That may no longer be the case, but the 36-year-old made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and remained effective last year with the Tennessee Titans, especially in pass protection. Justin Herbert would no doubt welcome that.”
The Bolts’ 2025 Pro Bowl quarterback was sacked 54 times in 16 regular-season games this past season, and was dropped six more times by the Patriots in an ugly 16-3 wild card loss at Foxborough.
Solidifying the offensive front remains vital to the Chargers
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Along with the signing of Strange, general manager Joe Hortiz has addressed the interior of the offensive front with the addition of center Tyler Biadasz—inexplicably cut loose by the Washington Commanders this offseason. That offsets the departure of Bradley Bozeman, who announced his retirement.
If the Chargers did add Zeitler, Strange could possibly wind up at left guard in place of Johnson. There are many a mock draft having Hortiz addressing the interior offensive line in this month’s draft. First things first, and that’s making a no-brainer move with the addition of Zeitler.