The Chargers are currently projected to have nearly $83MM in cap space for the 2026 offseason. That could lead on to a spending spree, but such an approach shouldn’t be expected.
Joe Hortiz is entering his third offseason because the Bolts’ general manager. The veteran executive’s time in Los Angeles was preceded by a lengthy stint with the Ravens, a team known for emphasizing the draft in its roster-building philosophy. Hortiz has maintained the same approach to that of the Ravens up to now in his GM tenure, and that could be expected to proceed this yr.
“I don’t wish to spend recklessly,” Hortiz recently said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “In case you chase perceived needs in free agency, within the draft and as a rule overpaying or making a mistake. So, we do need to be calculated. We’ve got to be smarter.”
The Chargers find themselves in need of additives along the inside of the offensive and defensive lines this spring. The team’s pass rush setup is also much different relatively soon, as each Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack are pending free agents. Hortiz may have quite a lot of key decisions to make over the approaching months. Los Angeles currently has six draft picks, including one in each of the primary 4 rounds.
A few of the team’s positional needs will little doubt remain largely unfilled until April, as is common practice across the league. Nevertheless, the Chargers could manage to win at the very least one notable bidding war on the open market given their financial flexibility. A continued emphasis will little doubt proceed to be placed on retaining in-house players, after all. The brand new pact for Teair Tart is a recent example of strong Los Angeles performers landing notable commitments from Hortiz and the front office.
There are other candidates to be re-signed briefly order, and the Bolts also obviously have a listing of extension candidates to work on leading as much as Week 1. There could still be room for a splashy outside addition or two, but much of the team’s resources will likely be aimed elsewhere.