Talked about the first week of Chargers free agency and where the roster stands after it:
-An awesome running back room after signing Keaton Mitchell
-Shoring up the blocking at TE/FB
-The offensive line moves (or lack thereof)
-ideas for acquisitions in the following FA waves
youtu.be/EtqgfKI0dys
Chargers DT Dalvin Tomlinson (#94) can still get after it as a run defender. Very much looking forward to seeing him work with Mike Elston in the same way Poona Ford, Teair Tart have previously.
The Chargers rewarded standout ST ace LB Del'Shawn Phillips with a contract extension.
Phillips had the 3rd most special teams tackles (18) in '25 and earned a second team All-Pro. He and Marlowe Wax also flashed on defense at the end of the season.
boltbeat.com/chargers-rew...
On the goal line, between the 20s, screens, you name it: very easy to see why Chargers OC Mike McDaniel wanted FB Alec Ingold back
Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore (#8) is a very intriguing Day 2 option for me in the world where the Chargers have to replace Odafe Oweh or Khalil Mack.
10 sacks, 41 pressures, 10.5 TFLs last season.
New: The Chargers have the most cap space in the NFL. They'll need every bit of it as they replace potentially 3 IOL spots with uncertainty around their star EDGE rushers.
It is a make or break offseason for Joe Horitz, one that requires no half measures.
boltbeat.com/chargers-sur...
New draft series I'll be doing: one player I like at every position on each projected day (1, 2, 3) of the draft.
First up-Tight end targets for the Chargers.
boltbeat.com/one-tantaliz...
New pod: Ranking the Chargers cut candidates by order of likelihood with contract impacts + thoughts on their 2025 performances.
-Mekhi Becton + Bradley Bozeman are goners
-Decisions to be made on Will Dissly, Bud Dupree
-other possible cuts in March (and the summer)
and more!
youtu.be/AAwHJF6Fb7Q
My Chargers Mock Draft 1.0: Imagining what the draft could look like before free agency in March.
boltbeat.com/chargers-moc...
New pod: Chargers Free Agency primer with March on the horizon
-Where the Chargers sit financially💸
-The fates of Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack🤔
-external FA fits I like (including a relatively deep TE class)
and taking your viewer questions!
youtu.be/4IJ---bh57Q
If Keenan Allen wants to remain with the Chargers like he says, he probably will. The vet WR still showed he could be productive in '25.
But, the gameplan cannot let Ladd McConkey take a backseat as often as he did last season in favor of Allen targets.
boltbeat.com/keenan-allen...
Keenan Allen via Zach Gelb saying he "fully intends" to play football in 2026 and be on the Chargers
@katson.bsky.social joins me this week on Bolt Breakdowns for a 2026 early Chargers Draft preview:
-Senior + Shrine Bowl standouts🔥
-How to address the OL this offseason🤔
-Sneaky position needs the fanbase isn't talking about
-potential Alex Day 3 RB candidate emerges
youtu.be/pCZNNWcjrrU
Chargers FA Odafe Oweh is getting a big contract.
He had 7.5 sacks w/ LA + added in 3 more sacks in the playoffs.
Priority #1 for Hortiz should be extending him before March.
boltbeat.com/latest-proje...
new pod, ICYMI
@jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social joins the show this week to talk about the new OC of the Chargers, Mike McDaniel.
-his journey in the NFL
-the fit with Jim Harbaugh🧥👖
-maximizing Justin Herbert⚡️
-potential offseason player acquisition fits for his offense🤔
youtu.be/-D-fQd2yfQA
The new 2026 Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff trio
HC: Jim Harbaugh
OC: Mike McDaniel
DC: Chris O'Leary
@jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social joins the show this week to talk about the new OC of the Chargers, Mike McDaniel.
-his journey in the NFL
-the fit with Jim Harbaugh🧥👖
-maximizing Justin Herbert⚡️
-potential offseason player acquisition fits for his offense🤔
youtu.be/-D-fQd2yfQA
Now that it's official, I spoke with The Athletic's Daniel Popper about the hiring of new Chargers OC Mike McDaniel last week!
-Why he and Jim Harbaugh have more synergy than people think
-What it means for Herbert
-a schematic overhaul, even if it is only a year
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC-j...
I cant do another quarter of romo
kick was hopeless but that was some incredible situational awareness from maye and vrabel
Playoff week in Foxborough: drop a question below and I’ll get to it in tomorrow’s special pregame Pats-Chargers Bolt Breakdowns Q + A.
⚡up
Playoff week in Foxborough: drop a question below and I’ll get to it in tomorrow’s special pregame Pats-Chargers Bolt Breakdowns Q + A.
⚡up
The good news from the first Chargers playoffs practice report: LT Jamaree Salyer is back
bad news: RB Omarion Hampton's status now seems murky
+ other notes
boltbeat.com/chargers-get...
Minter is the name to watch with Baltimore firing Harbaugh.
But wherever he gets hired, he could take members of "Ravens West" with him-including Chargers asst. GM Chad Alexander.
boltbeat.com/chargers-at-...
Harbaugh made the right call to sit Justin Herbert in Week 18. He is clearly still in pain having dealt with a hand fracture for 4.5 weeks.
The seed doesn't matter if Herbert isn't Herbert.
boltbeat.com/chargers-mak...
New pod: Chargers Texans vent sesh
-Gadsden drops, Dicker and Scott shank
-a key decision by the coaching staff that lost them the game
-Failing Justin Herbert, again...
-second half bounce back for Jesse Minter's defense
youtu.be/Hg-r7r4GGtE
New pod: Chargers streamroll Cowboys in Dallas
-Giving Jim Harbaugh his flowers for how he has navigated the Bolts
-When you keep Justin Herbert clean, it looks like that
-Quentin Johnston's return to Texas
-Great situational defensive performance by Jesse Minter's defense
youtu.be/u02GrYIP3Mc?...
New pod: Chargers streamroll Cowboys in Dallas
-Giving Jim Harbaugh his flowers for how he has navigated the Bolts
-When you keep Justin Herbert clean, it looks like that
-Quentin Johnston's return to Texas
-Great situational defensive performance by Jesse Minter's defense
youtu.be/u02GrYIP3Mc?...
