Chargers Brace for a Pivotal Offseason
The Los Angeles Chargers’ first season under Jim Harbaugh has concluded. The Chargers fell to the Houston Texans in the NFL Wild Card Game on Saturday 32-12. The team's glaring weaknesses throughout the season were on display all game. General manager Joe Hortiz will have his work cut out for him. The game against the Texans started off strong but was derailed after costly drops from receivers, poor offensive line protection for Justin Herbert, and more. Heading into the offseason, the Chargers are estimated to have close to $74 million in cap space. In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chargers will be picking at pick 22 or 23. This will be finalized after the result of the Minnesota Vikings against the Los Angeles Rams.
In season number one with Harbaugh at the helm, the Chargers went from a 5-12 team to an 11-6 playoff team. Despite the lopsided loss to the Texans, this season has to be viewed as a success in a retooling year. The Chargers will now have a bunch of cap space and draft assets to upgrade the roster to help improve on this 11-6 roster. The Bolts will have some tough decisions to make.
Edge rusher Joey Bosa carries a cap hit next season of around $36 million. Bosa’s injury history and age might be enough reason to cut him. This would give the Chargers a possible addition of $25 million. Another edge rusher Khalil Mack has mentioned that he is mulling retirement. All of a sudden, the Chargers edge room might look thin. Hortiz will need to address the position in free agency and the draft. Staying on the defensive side of the football, cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton will be entering free agency. Thankfully, the Chargers have been blessed to see fifth-round rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still emerge as legitimate NFL starters. Charvarius Ward can be a name to look out for in free agency.
The offensive side of the ball needs a lot of help. For starters, the Chargers need to address the interior offensive line. Bradley Bozeman’s contract will be expiring and Trey Pipkins can be a cut candidate for more cap space. Both of these players also struggled during the season, including left guard Zion Johnson. Expect the Chargers to be on the market for a center and guards in free agency and the draft.
Pass catchers were a huge topic of discussion for the Chargers. Rookie Ladd McConkey shined this year and showed he has wide receiver one capability. The Chargers should be interested in big-time free agents Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, and even Keenan Allen. Using draft capital to acquire a wide receiver is also on the table. Wide receiver situations to monitor would be Garrett Wilson and Tyreek Hill.
The signing of Hayden Hurst to be a reliable pass-catching tight end did not work out for the Chargers this year. Will Dissly was asked to play a bigger role than what he was brought in for. The 2025 NFL Draft includes very intriguing first-round tight end prospects. Colston Loveland will definitely be an interesting option for the Chargers due to his connection to Michigan. He also is a reliable catch-passing tight end that the Chargers need. Loveland and Dissly could be a nice combination at tight end next season. Another impressive tight end the Chargers should keep an eye out for is Penn State’s Tyler Warren. Warren was a beast all year for the Nittany Lions and is very versatile. He has an NFL body, is dynamic in the passing game, and can carry the ball in short-yardage situations.
Hortiz has many options he can go to for multiple positions. The Chargers will be using the compensatory pick formula to help maximize their roster upgrades. The first year of the Harbaugh era will be seen as a huge step in the right direction. This offseason can be a huge determining factor in whether the Chargers can take that other step in becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
