Category: Chargers free agency

Instant analysis of Chargers’ expected signing of TE Will Dissly

What the signing of Will Dissly means for the Chargers.

After adding former Ravens running back Gus Edwards on Monday, the Chargers struck a second time, adding former Seahawks tight end Will Dissly.

According to reports, Los Angeles signed Dissly to a three-year, $14 million contract. $10 million of that money is guaranteed in the first two seasons of the deal.

The 27-year-old Dissly was released by Seattle last week as the Seahawks prepared their cap sheet for free agency, which means that his signing with the Chargers does not affect the compensatory pick formula. That’s an important tidbit given how much of an emphasis new general manager Joe Hortiz has placed on gathering compensatory picks, a hallmark of his time in Baltimore.

Widely regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Dissly was ranked as the third-best run blocker from the tight end spot in 2023. He trailed only George Kittle and Charlie Woerner, both of the 49ers. Woerner signed a 3-year, $12 million contract with the Falcons earlier on Monday.

It’s a welcome change for the Chargers, who endured the 54th, 71st, and 80th run-blocking grades of 81 qualified tight ends a season ago. Gerald Everett (54th) is a free agent, although Los Angeles could elect to bring him back in more of a receiving role if the money is right. Donald Parham (71st) and Stone Smartt (80th) are due to return in 2024 but could end up being the receiving options if Los Angeles does not return Everett.

It also likely takes LA out of the running for Georgia’s Brock Bowers, a popular, if waning, mock draft selection for the Chargers. The allocation of a tight end with $10 million guaranteed and a top-flight draft pick, with the other holes on the roster, feels like an unwise investment. Los Angeles will likely target a tight end further down the draft board, like Penn State’s Theo Johnson or Colorado State’s Dallin Holker, to pair with Dissly.

Originally a fourth-round selection out of Washington, Dissly proves that tight ends who can block can carve out lengthy careers in the NFL. For the Chargers to secure him for mid-market money without losing a potential compensatory pick is a win for Los Angeles, which needs moves around the margins like this to pan out if they’re going to be competitive in the short term. Dissly, as long as he stays healthy, should get them closer.

Poll: Grade Chargers’ offseason moves so far

What grade would you give Chargers general manager Tom Telesco’s offseason up to this point?

It’s been a little over two weeks since the NFL’s free agency period opened, and as it seems to be every year, the bulk of the madness happened in the first few days.

So how have the Chargers done?

This year’s offseason has been more intriguing than others in the past. It has seen Los Angeles bring in a handful of notables, including Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson, and lose some, including Kyzir White and Uchenna Nwosu.

Here’s the list of L.A.’s ins and outs so far in free agency, along with the team(s) that they went to and came from:

Out

DL Justin Jones | Bears

EDGE Kyler Fackrell | Raiders

C Scott Quessenberry | Texans

LB Kyzir White | Eagles

EDGE Uchenna Nwosu | Seahawks

In

CB J.C. Jackson

EDGE Khalil Mack

DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

DT Austin Joseph

TE Gerald Everett

LS Josh Harris

P J.K. Scott

Retained

QB Chase Daniel

DT Christian Covington

K Dustin Hopkins

Released

OT Bryan Bulaga

Unsigned

DT Linval Joseph

CB Chris Harris Jr.

TE Jared Cook

G Oday Aboushi

CB Ryan Smith

G Michael Schofield

G Senio Kelemete

LS Matt Overton

TE Stephen Anderson

S Trey Marshall

OT Storm Norton

RB Justin Jackson

P Ty Long

There are still some players available that the Chargers could sign before or after the draft, but their positions of needs are quite evident.

So what kind of grade do you give general manager Tom Telesco for his work thus far? Vote in the poll below.

[crowdsignal poll=11080310]

Tracking where Chargers’ free agents signed, who remains unsigned

Here’s a look at where Chargers free agents have signed through the first wave of free agency and those who remained unsigned.

The Chargers have been active reconstructing their roster with new players and bringing back some of their own from this past season.

All the while, there are still some in-house players that either have signed with another team or remain unsigned.

Here’s a look at those that have signed and remain unsigned through the first wave:

DT Linval Joseph

Status: Unsigned

CB Chris Harris Jr.

Status: Unsigned

WR Mike Williams

Status: Re-signed 3-year deal with the Chargers

TE Jared Cook

Status: Unsigned

G Oday Aboushi

Status: Unsigned

CB Ryan Smith

Status: Unsigned

EDGE Kyler Fackrell

Status: Signed with the Raiders

EDGE Uchenna Nwosu

Status: Signed with the Seahawks

QB Chase Daniel

Status: Re-signed with the Chargers

G Michael Schofield

Status: Unsigned

K Dustin Hopkins

Status: Re-signed with the Chargers

G Senio Kelemete

Status: Unsigned

LS Matt Overton

Status: Unsigned

DT Christian Covington

Status: Re-signed with the Chargers

TE Stephen Anderson

Status: Unsigned

DT Justin Jones

Status: Signed with the Bears

LB Kyzir White

Status: Signed with the Eagles

S Trey Marshall

Status: Unsigned

RB Justin Jackson

Status: Unsigned

6 remaining free agents Chargers could consider signing

Highlighting six players still on the market who could interest the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have been quite active this free agency period, trading for Khalil Mack, signing J.C. Jackson, Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and re-signing some of their own.

After all of the moves made, Los Angeles has about $13.6 million left in spending money, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

With the second wave of free agents coming up, general manager Tom Telesco might choose to make one or two more signings prior to the draft.

With that being said, here are the six remaining free agents that would be fits.

NFL analysts grade Chargers’ free agency signings

Find out what NFL experts have thought of the Los Angeles Chargers’ pickups in free agency.

The first week of free agency is nearing an end, and the Chargers were aggressive from the get-go, with the intentions of bolstering their roster to contend to make a deep run next season.

Following the trade for All-Pro edge defender Khalil Mack, Los Angeles upgraded the defensive side of the ball with the signings of cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive tackles Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day.

With that, here’s a look at how NFL experts graded the Bolts’ signings up to this point:

5 free agents the Chargers could consider to replace Bryan Bulaga

The Chargers released Bryan Bulaga on Tuesday, leaving free agency as a potential outlet to find his replacement.

The Chargers released Bryan Bulaga on Tuesday.

Los Angeles returns Storm Norton, who played in place of the injured Bulaga this past season. However, Norton had his fair share of struggles, which means the team may elect to go with a stop-gap veteran.

Should the Bolts explore that option, here’s a look at five free agents that would make sense.

 

Chargers releasing OT Bryan Bulaga

The Chargers will save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Bryan Bulaga.

The Chargers are releasing offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga.

The team will save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Bulaga.

Bulaga signed a three-year, $30 million contract last year with the hopes of supplying sustainability at the right tackle spot.

However, Bulaga’s first season with the team was cut to 10 games as he dealt with various injuries.

In his second year with Los Angeles, Bulaga played in just two quarters of the season opener after suffering an injury that landed him on the injured reserve.

Bulaga had surgery on his core muscle and never returned to the field, despite starting to work on the practice field in November.

Now, the Chargers’ attention will turn to either signing a veteran or drafting one to compete with Storm Norton and Trey Pipkins for the starting job in 2022.

Chargers re-signing QB Chase Daniel

The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing Chase Daniel back for his 14th season in the league.

The Chargers have kicked off the second day of the league’s legal tampering period by re-signing quarterback Chase Daniel to a one-year deal.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the one-year deal is worth $2.25 million.

Daniel was signed last offseason to serve as a mentor to Justin Herbert as he transitioned to offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s system.

Now, the team wants to have the veteran presence of Daniel for his 14th season in the NFL for another year.

Before joining Los Angeles, Daniel spent time with the Lions, Bears, Saints, and Chiefs.

In his 13-year career, Daniel has thrown for 1,694 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Report: Chargers expected to sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

The Chargers continue to bolster the defensive line.

After landing Austin Joseph, the Chargers continue to bolster the defensive line.

According to ESPN’s Chris Carlin, Los Angeles is expected to sign former Rams defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.

Joseph-Day is familiar with head coach Brandon Staley, making this an intriguing pairing. When Staley oversaw the Rams’ top-ranked defense, he had a career-high 33 run stops, two passes defended, and a forced fumble.

He was on his way to surpassing those in 2021, but an unfortunate torn pectoral sustained in Week 7 kept him out.

Still, with a combination of speed, power, and violent hands, Joseph-Day can win one-on-one matchups and eat-up blockers to let his fellow teammates roam freely.

Further, Joseph-Day has 55 defensive stops since 2020, tied for 15th. Every other player in the Top 15 has at least 1,000 snaps over the span, he’s put up 55 stops on just 728 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Report: Chargers expected to sign DT Austin Johnson

The Chargers are addressing the trenches, as they’re expected to sign former Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson.

After addressing the secondary with cornerback J.C. Jackson, the Chargers are bolstering the trenches.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport is expected to sign former Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson.

More to come.