{"id":869682,"date":"2026-04-19T06:19:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T06:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869682\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T06:19:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T06:19:42","slug":"chargers-explanation-for-conservative-offseason-around-justin-herbert-falls-flat-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869682\/","title":{"rendered":"Chargers\u2019 Explanation for Conservative Offseason Around Justin Herbert Falls Flat"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> moved through NFL free agency like a team with minimal resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One problem: The Chargers should be all-in around the Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel pairing. They had nearly $100 million in free cap space. The NFL draft is days away and they still have nearly $50 million and some major concerns across multiple spots on the roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So what gives?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Chargers hit some needs on the open market, no doubt. But general manager Joe Hortiz and the front office stubbornly stuck close to the NFL draft compensatory pick formula<\/a>, making extra sure not to spend too much and sacrifice any of those extra picks coming in future years.<\/p>\n

While a measured approach, the timid nature of it all opens up the Chargers to some very justifiable criticism. <\/p>\n

Chargers\u2019 NFL free agency explanation seems concerning\"Los<\/p>\n

Joe Hortiz | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Let Hortiz tell it, the Chargers\u2019 approach to free agency was by the books and they\u2019re pretty happy with it as the draft approaches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe in just going out and having a shopping spree,\u201d Hortiz said, according to The Athletic\u2019s Daniel Popper<\/a>. \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

Hortiz added, per Popper, that this idea works in concert with the draft: \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

That all sounds great, but the problems are obvious.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Chargers unquestionably upgraded at center with Tyler Biadasz. But “upgrading” on Bradley Bozeman was a given.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Much of the team\u2019s signings were mid-tier at best while laser focused on finding guys who profile well in Mike McDaniel\u2019s new offense. Charlie Kolar is a blocking tight end. Alec Ingold is a fullback. Cole Strange is a semi-former-first-round bust at guard. Kendall Milton is a running back another contender wasn\u2019t worried about losing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Chargers still need serious help on the interior offensive line and arguably at every level of the defense. That defense is more important than it seems, too, given the transition from Jesse Minter to Chris O\u2019Leary at coordinator.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nobody is saying the Chargers should have gone out and spent major cash on gambles. But they could have done more. And for a team that is so locked-in on draft picks, surrendering one in an Odafe Oweh trade, getting a major breakout from him on the field, then not paying to keep him long-term smacks a bit silly, really.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Chargers rightfully didn\u2019t want to pay first-round bust Zion Johnson on the market, but there\u2019s another problem: The drafting isn\u2019t guaranteed to work out, either, clearly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All of these critiques go away if the Chargers win. Tale as old as time. But it\u2019s hard to blame anyone who looks at the Herbert-McDaniel situation and lack of playoff success and sees the $50ish million in cap space and wonders what the heck the plan really is and if it\u2019ll work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sign Up For the Chargers Daily Digest – OnSI\u2019s Free Los Angeles Chargers Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n

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