The Chargers paid Teair Tart a total of $6.225 million the past two seasons. They signed him to a three-year, $30 million deal in February, with $20 million guaranteed.
The defensive lineman insists the money won’t change him.
“No, it actually builds on it. Same me,” Tart said Monday, via Eric Smith of the team website. “I always got something to prove. I know I play with a chip on my shoulder, always got something to prove, always want to find ways to get better each and every season.
“I got a new contract, but it don’t change the goals. It don’t change the ambition I got for myself and this team.”
Tart, 29, has played for the Titans and Texans and spent the 2024 offseason and part of that training camp with the Dolphins. The Chargers signed Tart following his release from the Dolphins.
Now, he’s under contract for three more years.
“I think it was great. I love being here. The staff knows that. Everybody in the building knows that,” Tart said. “I’m extremely appreciative. I feel like over the years, it’s been a long journey. I’ve been busting my ass day-in and day-out, always trying to prove my worth to the staff, to my teammates, trying to prove myself each and every day. It’s much appreciated, and honestly I thank God. I feel blessed.”
Tart has totaled 61 tackles, one sack, one interception and six quarterback hits in his two seasons in Los Angeles.
The Chargers have added 18 undrafted rookie free agents to their roster, including one who will be reunited with defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary.
O’Leary was hired after running the defense at Western Michigan last season and edge rusher Nadame Tucker thrived in that system. Tucker had 14.5 sacks for the Broncos, which tied No. 2 overall pick David Bailey for the most in the nation.
Tucker’s big season came after he played sparingly during three seasons at Houston and NFL teams obviously weren’t blown away by his numbers in the MAC, but he’ll get a chance to show that he has something to offer the Chargers.
The Chargers also signed Utah State safety Noah Avinger, Utah linebacker Lander Barton, Kansas State tight end Jerand Bradley, Colorado wide receiver Sincere Brown, Virginia defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, Memphis running back Gregory Desrosiers, Syracuse safety Devin Grant, LSU defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory, San Diego State linebacker Niles King, Penn State wide receiver Devonte Ross, Georgia Tech cornerback Rodney Shelley, Toledo cornerback Avery Smith, Fresno State center Jacob Spomer, Wyoming tight end Evan Svoboda, SMU defensive lineman Terry Webb, Florida State cornerback Jeremiah Wilson, and Oregon tackle Isaiah World.
There’s now another set of brothers in the NFL.
The Saints selected receiver Bryce Lance — quarterback Trey Lance’s younger brother — with the No. 136 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 draft.
Bryce Lance also played his college ball at North Dakota State, winning a pair of FCS national championships.
He was a two-year starter at NDSU, garnering first-team All-MVFC recognition in 2024 and 2025. He recorded 75 receptions for 1,071 yards with 17 touchdowns in 2024 and 51 catches for 1,079 yards with eight TDs in 2025.
Now he will be in the pros with his brother, Trey, who is currently the Chargers’ backup QB.
The Chargers added some juice to the edges of their defense in the first round on Thursday night.
They made Ahkeem Mesidor the 22nd overall pick. Mesidor’s Miami teammate Rueben Bain was the No. 15 pick to Tampa, so both Hurricane edge rushers are now off the board.
Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa was selected 10th by the Giants, so three Miami players have now gone in the first round.
Mesidor had 12.5 sacks for Miami last season and spent six years in college overall, so he’s older than many of the other players being picked on Thursday night. That could limit his growth potential, but it could also make him likelier to contribute right off the bat as a complement to Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu in Los Angeles.
The World Cup is coming soon. And it’s quickly becoming a pain in the posterior for the 13 teams playing in stadiums that will be commandeered for intercontinental soccer.
Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal recently reviewed some of the practical impacts of FIFA bigfooting the various venues where fútbol will be played. This week, for example, the Jets and Giants will move their annual draft parties away from MetLife Stadium to Manhattan.
In all, 13 teams are impacted by the World Cup: the Cowboys, Jets, Giants, Falcons, Chiefs, Texans, 49ers, Chargers, Rams, Eagles, Seahawks, Patriots, and Dolphins.
For the teams that have employees at the stadiums hosting World Cup games, many will be moved. Those who are staying put will be subject to FIFA credentialing to get into their workplaces. And the Giants will start training camp in West Virginia, since MetLife Stadium will be hosting the final match on July 19 on a grass field that will need to be removed and replaced with one of the worst artificial surfaces in the entire league.
That last part still has to be the most galling for NFL players. Owners with stadiums that don’t have grass have bent over backwards to do whatever had to be done to placate FIFA. Their regular employees, however, will still be stuck with a lesser (and far cheaper) playing surface.
The various sacrifices involuntarily made by the players and other team employees should prompt FIFA to give them all a phony, made-up award. Especially since FIFA has already done that, for far less.
