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**Program Note**
No Thursday Podcast today-travelling
Will return Monday 1:30pm
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“CHARGERS-WHAT THEY SAY-WHAT THEY NEED”
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The Chargers are at the NFL combine.
What they are saying about their team, their roster, their cap situation is odd
Does not seem to match what we are seeing.
GM-Joe Hortiz had lots to comment on:
MIKE MC DANIEL…Said he was full of energy and the kind of guys who evaluates players non stop…He used alot of impressive words like great soul…full of ideas…an energy man….Admits that the McDaniel quick tempo offense means they need a very different type of OL. A very unsettled situation.
SALARY CAP..Yes they have (83M) in cap space but they have alot of key players to re-sign and Hortiz said he was not going out on a spending spree.
KHALIL MACK..Made 18M last year and if he comes back he may have to take a bit of a pay cut. But also out there are the Baltimore Ravens-whose new coach Jesse Minter might raid his old team for key components.
ODAFE OWEH..He’s a free agent too, and coming off a strong half season with the Bolts, will be looking for a huge pay bump (14M). The Ravens could be in on this.
ZION JOHNSON..Four year starter who had a bounceback season last year and now is a free agent. It will take a big hike to sign him (15M) and he will get offers.
BRAD BOZEMAN..Has retired and a search means they have to find a starter and it might not be cheap. Can they afford a rookie starter there?
MEKHI BECTON..A (20M) investment gone bad-horrid pass blocking-run blocking rankings will-should lead to his release. There will be a cap hit. And by next week when free agency opens, the Bolts could be looking to fill 3-starting jobs on the interior of that OL.
TREY PIPKENS..How many years can you go and hope this is the breakout year…Played all over the line-not with alot of dominance for someone so big…Can’t get away from feeling same old-same old if they are relying on him again.
QUENTIN JOHNSTON..Continues to be an up and down performer and the team will likely not pick up the fifth year option (18M) for 2027. Has just not panned out Sunday-by-Sunday this deep into his career.
KEENAN ALLEN..Took snaps away from Ladd McConkey last season and might not be a fit for what McDaniel wants to run, and his price tag (5M) might be too high for a role player.
NAJEE HARRIS..Had a lost season, and it cost Hortiz (5M) with virtually no return from the eye and Achilles injuries. They need a veteran to work with the young RBs but not at that price.
FREE AGENCY..There are a load of offensive lineman on the board but the price tags will be steep…….Some aging pass rushers…a number of young running backs with experience…alot of age or injury or attitude issues at wide receiver. It’s a bit of a strange year in that marketplace.
SUMMARY…For a team that overhauled its coaching staff despite 22-wins in 2-years..this team needs significant help for QB-Justin Herbert. Interesting couple of weeks ahead for Joe Hortiz, who has cap space, lots of signings to make, and not alot of draft picks to use.
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