NFL Power Rankings: Where do the Chargers land after free agency?

With free agency in the rearview, here’s a look at where the Chargers stand in the power rankings after free agency.

NFL free agency has begun to slow down. After the frenzy, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are in decent shape, even after moving away from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. They retained Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and have made a slew of acquisitions, especially to bolster the running game.

Here is what the national media thinks of Los Angeles after free agency and ahead of the draft.

NFL.com: 16

“This is where I’m bracing for impact. No, you haven’t read this placement wrong — and I’m prepared for the worst. When I last ranked the Chargers, the hiring of Jim Harbaugh was still relatively fresh, and their slot at that time (No. 25) was more about 2023 than the future. The more I think about it, the clearer it is to me that the most difference-making move of any team so far this offseason was Harbaugh joining the Bolts. The guy wins. I don’t know how he’ll do that exactly, but he’ll definitely make this team more mentally tough and disciplined in Year 1. Everywhere he’s been, he’s done that. So prepare yourselves for some narrative-breaking. The Chargers have weathered a tough salary-trimming period, but they came out of it in decent enough shape. And very quietly, they’ve added some Harbaugh-ish signings (Gus Edwards, Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst) to beef up his run game and versatility. Sleep on them at your own peril.”

Sporting News: 16

“The Chargers’ offensive transition to be run-heavy and more efficient with Justin Herbert is in full swing under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. They wisely chose to preserve defense (Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa) over offense (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams).”

Pro Football Network: 17

“What a weird offseason for the Chargers. Still riding high from the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, Chargers fans got a reality check when the franchise released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen in a pair of cost-cutting moves.”

For The Win: 27

“2024 is a gap year while Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz untangle the mess left behind by the previous regime. An untenable cap situation meant Los Angeles not only had to mostly sit out the start of free agency but also had to say goodbye to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Oh well. Biting the financial bullet now should ensure a more fruitful future for Justin Herbert.”

The Athletic: 26

“Jim Harbaugh’s first offseason with the Chargers involved cutting a lot of salary, which is why Allen and Williams are gone and Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack restructured their contracts. Edwards is an interesting addition and plays the power back role Harbaugh prefers better than Ekeler, but the exits outweigh the entrances on the roster so far, and Harbaugh’s first year might not be stellar.”

Joe Hortiz speaks on Chargers’ free agency additions with ties to Ravens

Almost half of the free agents the Chargers added to their roster for the 2024 season have come from the Ravens.

Almost half of the free agents the Chargers added to their roster for the 2024 season have come from the Ravens. General manager Joe Hortiz recruited running back Gus Edwards, center Bradley Bozeman, and tight end Hayden Hurst, all of whom played under him during his tenure with Baltimore. 

“All three of those guys, I know what we’re getting with them,” Hortiz said.

They were inevitably ‘a natural fit,’ according to Hortiz. 

Edwards is slated to be the Bolts’ top running back. He’s a physical addition to the offense. In 2023, he ran for 810 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. 

“I think specifically with Gus, l’ve seen him deal with the adversity of the [ACL] injury two years ago and come back from it,” Hortiz said. “Grind, be physical, continue to play the same brand of football he’s always played. Really excited to have him.

“He’s the bell cow, the goal line [guy], the finisher,” Hortiz added. “The right mentality for what we’re looking to do here. I told you we wanted to be bigger, play a physical style of football on both sides of the ball and he helps us do that.”

The connections to the Ravens continue with the Chargers acquiring Hurst and Bozeman who were part of the same 2018 draft class in Baltimore.

“Bradley and Hayden are the same way [as Edwards],” Hortiz said. “I do my best to get to know the players and those are two I knew pretty well from my time in Baltimore.

“Feel very fortunate that the situation presented itself to get both those guys,” Hortiz added. “You get two quality players that know our scheme, that fit our scheme and that fit the mentality.”

Chargers re-signing QB Easton Stick

The Chargers are bringing back a familiar face.

The Chargers are re-signing quarterback Easton Stick, according to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo.

Stick, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, had served as the backup with zero experience as a starter until this past season when Justin Herbert was sidelined with a finger injury.

Stick went on to start the final four games and finished with 1,129 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and a score on 27 carries.

With a new regime, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they addressed the backup quarterback spot with another veteran. But given Stick’s athleticism paired with Greg Roman’s run-heavy offense, the pairing made sense.

Additionally, the Chargers brought back Shane Day to be the team’s quarterbacks coach. He previously worked with Stick in 2021 and 2022.

Report: Chargers fielding trade offers for veteran players

The Chargers appear to be sellers as they head into the new league year.

The Chargers appear to be sellers as they head into the new league year.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Los Angeles has had exploratory trade talks on Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.

Breer added that Allen is the least likely to be moved, but the team is listening to all offers.

Los Angeles is $21.1 million over the salary cap and must be cap-compliant by March 13.

The veterans have large cap hits, with Mack’s being the highest at $38.52 million, followed by Bosa’s at $36.61 million, Allen’s at $34.72 million, and Williams’ at $32.46 million.

Mack is coming off a career year, finishing with 17 sacks, but he just turned 33. Trading him would free up $23.25 million. Bosa has been riddled with injuries. A trade would free up $14.39 million.

Williams is coming off a torn ACL. A trade would free up $20 million. Allen finished with a 1,243-yard receiving season. He will be 32 this season. Trading him would create $23.1 million in cap space.

Whether it’s being traded or released, expect at least one of these players not to be in the Powder Blues next season.

Chargers pegged as potential landing spot for two cornerbacks

The Chargers need to shore up the cornerback room this offseason.

The Chargers will be in the market for cornerbacks. Michael Davis is set to be a free agent and the positional group could benefit from additional depth for defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Pro Football Focus suggests Bills’ Dane Jackson and Falcons’ Jeff Okudah as two options.

Here is what PFF said about Jackson:

The Chargers in this scenario add a young cornerback who was quickly trusted to log snaps in Sean McDermott’s defense. Jackson is a bit light but has good stop-and-start ability, closing well from off coverage.

Across four seasons, Jackson has appeared in 52 games with 28 starts. He posted 152 tackles, 28 passes defended and three interceptions.

For being a former seventh-round pick, Jackson has had a solid career.

As for Okudah, he was a first-round pick by the Lions in the 2020 NFL draft. But he was plagued by injuries and underwhelming play and was eventually traded to the Falcons last year.

Okudah’s play in coverage is hit or miss, but he is great against the run, which the Chargers could use on the back end.

Chargers release LB Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendricks was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2019.

The Chargers have released linebacker Eric Kendricks, the team announced on Tuesday.

Signed last offseason to a two-year deal, Kendricks started 14 games, totaling 117 tackles with seven tackles for loss, six passes defensed, and 3.5 sacks.

Los Angeles saves $6.5 million against the cap by releasing Kendricks. He was slated to make $5 million in base salary in 2024.

Kendricks, a former second-round pick out of UCLA, began his career with the Vikings, where he played for eight seasons.

The other starting linebacker, Kenneth Murray, is slated to be a free agent next week.

Chargers named potential landing spot for pair of linebackers

Kenneth Murray is a free agent and Eric Kendricks could be a cap casualty.

The Chargers will be retooling their linebacker room this offseason. Kenneth Murray is a free agent and Eric Kendricks could be a cap casualty.

To fill a void, Pro Football Focus listed two pending free-agent linebackers that Los Angeles could target.

The first is Commanders’ Cody Barton.

After four seasons with the Seahawks, Barton was traded to Washington. He was plagued by an ankle injury that caused him to miss four games. However, Barton still finished with 121 tackles.

His best season came in 2022 when he posted a career-high 136 tackles, six passes defended and four tackles for loss.

At 27 years old, Barton is still young, he has plenty of production and would come at a low price tag.

The next linebacker PFF mentions is Eagles’ Zach Cunningham.

They highlight how defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was the defensive coordinator for Vanderbilt, the same school Cunningham attended.

Cunningham’s strength is run defense, which he posted grades of 70 or higher in six of his seven seasons.

He should also be come cheap.

PFF: Current projected contracts for Chargers’ 2024 internal free agents

Brad Spielberger has current contract valuations available for Austin Ekeler, Alohi Gilman and Gerald Everett.

The Chargers will enter March with 27 internal free agents.

Of that group, three of Los Angeles’ players received contract projections from PFF’s Top 200 free agent ranking.

Brad Spielberger has current contract valuations available for Austin Ekeler, Alohi Gilman, and Gerald Everett.

Predicting the fate of all the Chargers’ pending free agents in 2024

Here are predictions for what the Chargers might do with each player in their 2024 free agent class.

As free agency approaches, the Chargers are projected to be $44 million over the salary cap.

General manager Joe Hortiz will have some decisions to make regarding their internal pending free agents.

Ahead of the free agency frenzy, here are my predictions for what Los Angeles might do with each player in their 2024 free agent class.

PFF: Chargers listed as potential landing spot for WR Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney possesses the speed the Chargers need in the wide receiver room.

The Chargers could be retooling their wide receiver room this offseason. Mike Williams is a possible cap casualty. Keenan Allen could be, too, but even if he stays in Los Angeles, he will be 32 years old next season.

Should the Bolts seek free agency to address the position, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger believes Bears’ Darnell Mooney could be a potential target.

The Chargers have some interesting in-house decisions with their own wide receivers, but they need to add more talent even after using their first-round pick in 2023 on Quentin Johnston. Mooney historically has created quick separation at the intermediate level, a skill set that would pair quite well with Justin Herbert. Jim Harbaugh may prioritize wide receivers that can block at a high level, but they have plenty of bigger bodies already.

Mooney’s 2023 season wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as he finished with a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown.

This was two seasons after his breakout year in which he posted 81 receptions, 1,055 yards and four TDs.

The Chargers need more speed at the position, which Mooney possesses, having run a 4.38 40-yard dash. He could be a solid target for Justin Herbert in the intermediate and deep parts of the field.

PFF is projecting Mooney’s contract to be worth $9 million for a year.

While I believe in addressing the wide receiver position in the draft, if Los Angeles were to get Mooney in a buy-low situation, it might be worth it as he’s only 26 years old, and he could inject the offense with the explosive ability to consistently separate from coverage.