The Los Angeles Chargers have made the playoffs two years in a row. They’ve also lost in the Wild Card Round both times. So the front office spent this offseason trying to fix that. And for the most part, people around the league liked what they saw.
But ESPN’s Seth Walder has one nagging question: why didn’t they spend more?
“Overall, this was a good offseason,” Walder wrote. “But I wonder if the Chargers should have spent a little more. As of this writing, they have the fourth-most cap space in 2026 and rank in the top 10 in 2027 cap space. Could they have used that money to get a better guard than Cole Strange? I’d have shelled out for Elgton Jenkins or Isaac Seumalo if I were them.”
Biggest Contracts Came at a Discount
The most expensive deal Los Angeles handed out this offseason was a three-year, $30 million contract for center Tyler Biadasz. Tight end Charlie Kolar and guard Cole Strange rounded out the top three. None of those guys are breaking the bank.
And sure, all three fill a clear need. The same goes for tight end David Njoku, running back Keaton Mitchell and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. The Chargers addressed holes. They just didn’t swing big.
That’s the tension here. LA has cap flexibility to make moves later if they need to. But Walder’s question is fair: could an extra splashy signing have pushed this team past the Wild Card round? The franchise will have to prove they’re ready by winning a playoff game, not just saving cap space.
In the AFC, being good isn’t enough anymore. The Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, and even the Dolphins have all shown they’re willing to spend to get over the hump. The Chargers chose a different path. Now they’ve got to make it work.
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