Los Angeles

Chargers

Mesidor’s $20.456 million contract is fully guaranteed. Mesidor, 25, racked up 17.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last season. He can contribute both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. Mesidor should compete for a starting role right away, opposite EDGE Khalil Mack, in a pass-rush unit that totaled 49 sacks in the 2025 regular season.

Vidal, Moton said, could drop to RB3 on the Chargers’ depth chart this offseason if free agent signing Keaton Mitchell is healthy following a 2024 knee injury that kept him sidelined for much of the 2025 season in Baltimore. The Chargers in march re-signed Vidal to a one-year deal as an exclusive rights free agent after he ran for 643 yards and three touchdowns during the 2025 season. He also caught 16 passes on 20 targets, mostly when Omarion Hampton was sidelined with injury. Look for Mitchell to gain steam in fantasy circles if Vidal leaves LA in the coming weeks or months.

Herbert told Popper that his arm feels “pretty good,” but he “can definitely tell that [he is] heading into Year 7.” Veterans often get rest days, so this is nothing to be alarmed about. New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel recently outlined his plan to bring out the best in Herbert. He expanded on that plan with Popper, saying he believes the Chargers “can create more explosive plays in the short area of the field,” while also mitigating the opposing pass rush. Aligning Herbert’s footwork and release with his receivers’ route timing is key. In the past, Herbert has relied on his arm strength to make tight window throws after watching his pass catchers get open. Now, the 28-year-old quarterback is working on “trusting [his receivers], and just throwing it to a spot and letting them go get it.” If it all comes together, Herbert’s per-play efficiency could increase while his pressure-to-sack rate decreases this season.

The Chargers signed Kolar and David Njoku in the offseason, adding them to a tight end room containing Oronde Gadsden. Popper mentions Njoku and Gadsden both “impact the game more as receivers than blockers.” Kolar is the best run blocker among the trio with pass-catching upside, finishing last season with 10 receptions for 142 yards behind Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews with the Ravens. All three are capable pass-catchers and allows the Chargers to use three-tight-end sets, something Popper said the team was testing out in practice Wednesday. Njoku and Gadsden will likely have more fantasy relevancy as pass-catchers but Popper believes Kolar’s “complete skill set” can make him the TE1 in Mike McDaniel’s offense.

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said both players were ahead of schedule when asked about them a week before the NFL Draft. Slater suffered a season-ending ruptured a patellar tendon last August and did not play a snap in 2025. Alt was unable to recover from a high-ankle sprain during the season and finished the year on injured reserve. All signs point to the Chargers having their elite tackle duo healthy for the start of the year. With an improved offensive line and Mike McDaniel on the headset, this is truly a make-or-break year for Justin Herbert.

James will now be making $25.2 million per year, slightly nudging out the Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton ($25.1 million per year) for highest-paid safety in the league. The deal includes $57.5 million guaranteed. James entered the offseason wanting a new contract before training camp and he gets one coming off back-to-back seasons of Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. He remains a versatile and hard-hitting centerfielder for the Chargers, captaining the defense for seven seasons, making five Pro Bowls in that time. James tied his career-high with three interceptions last seasons and finished with an 81.2 overall PFF grade, good for No. 8 among safeties. He was set to enter the final season of his contract but will now be signed to the Chargers through 2029.

Rhim caveats the thought by adding that increased tight end usage “is not a guarantee.” The key takeaway for second-year TE Oronde Gadsden is that Rhim thinks recent free agent signee, TE David Njoku, could take on the TE1 role, noting Njoku possesses “valuable experience that a guy like Gadsden can learn from.” That said, in a piece where Rhim highlighted the tight end position’s importance in the new scheme, he referenced only Gadsden and Njoku, seemingly indicating this is a two-player race for the TE1 job. Njoku’s play has declined recently, as has his health. Gadsden might currently be the TE2, but we have to get through spring and summer practices first.

Rhim specifically cites former Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith, who posted an 88/886/8 receiving line, while totaling 505 yards after the catch under McDaniel in 2024. McDaniel and TEs coach Chandler Henley plan to create a “run-pass conflict” for opposing defenses, which starts at the tight end position. The offense will expectedly use two-tight end sets often. Rhim notes that Njoku, 29, has “been one of the league’s best tight ends at yards after catch for the past decade,” although he “is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro” and has been bothered by lower-body injuries recently. Whether Njoku has enough left in the tank to handle TE1 duties remains to be seen. It is worth noting that Rhim never once mentioned TE Charlie Kolar in the article, suggesting he is stuck in the TE3 spot behind Njoku and second-year TE Oronde Gadsden.

Day, 51, will retain his prior role as well. The Chargers did the same with DBs coach Steve Clinkscale, adding defensive passing game coordinator to his title, and DL coach Mike Elston, adding defensive run game coordinator to his title. Former offensive assistant Josh Hammond has been promoted to assistant WRs coach and assistant ST coach and Mike Hiestand has been named defensive run game specialist. The team also added Jarrod James, Jimmy Thompson and Beau Snuggs as Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellows.

Speaking on the Up and Adams show, Hortiz said he has spoken with Allen’s representation this offseason. For now, Hortiz noted that the team is letting their younger talent grow and develop throughout the offseason program. After a down year in Chicago, Allen returned to form upon reuniting with Justin Herbert in 2025, posting an 81-777-4 receiving line with far better efficiency metrics. If Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh don’t think their receiver room is complete through OTAs and minicamp, Allen could be back in a Chargers uniform by the time training camp rolls around.