Tag: Teair Tart

Chargers 2025 offseason preview: Pending free agents, cap space, team needs, draft picks

Examining the Chargers’ offseason, including team needs, pending free agents, and salary-cap space.

After finishing 11-6 and making the playoffs, the Chargers are in full offseason mode.

Los Angeles is still a couple of months away from the new league frenzy, but it’s not too early to look at what to expect then, starting with 27 players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.

  1. CB Eli Apple
  2. OL Bradley Bozeman
  3. WR DJ Chark
  4. RB J.K. Dobbins
  5. LB Troy Dye
  6. TE Hayden Hurst
  7. WR Simi Fehoko
  8. DL Poona Ford
  9. DL Morgan Fox
  10. CB Kristian Fulton
  11. QB Taylor Heinicke
  12. OL Brenden Jaimes
  13. S Tony Jefferson
  14. EDGE Khalil Mack
  15. S Marcus Maye
  16. S Elijah Molden
  17. OL Sam Mustipher
  18. LB Nick Niemann
  19. WR Joshua Palmer
  20. LB Denzel Perryman
  21. LB Shaq Quarterman
  22. WR Jalen Reagor
  23. EDGE Chris Rumph II
  24. CB Asante Samuel, Jr.
  25. P JK Scott
  26. QB Easton Stick
  27. DL Teair Tart

Cap space

The Chargers have a projected $63 million in cap space, the sixth most among all NFL teams.

Team needs

Wide receiver

Time and time again, we saw Justin Herbert’s receivers drop crucial passes this season. Ladd McConkey is here to stay for the long term, and Quentin Johnston did show some improvements. With that, the Chargers still need a legit No. 1 playmaker on the outsider, like a Tee Higgins in free agency. Keenan Allen even teased that he would consider a return to Los Angeles. Regardless of who it is, the Chargers must get Herbert some help and it should be at the top of the priority list.

Tight end

Just behind the wide receiver position, the Chargers need tight end talent badly as well. Recent mock drafts have had Los Angeles using their first-round draft selection on a tight end. This year’s talent at the position was subpar in both the pass-catching and blocking departments. Don’t be surprised to see the front office add multiple tight ends this offseason.

Center

The offensive line is set at offensive tackle, but center was the clear weakness of this unit in 2024. Bradley Bozeman was brought in on a cheap deal, and it didn’t work out. He was regularly the weak link of the offensive line, and it’s time Los Angeles gets younger at this position.

Running back

J.K. Dobbins proved to be a good value pickup. But as we saw, his injury history is concerning. While he can’t be relied upon for an entire 17-game season, Dobbins could be a candidate to return on a short-term deal. Still, it would be wise to draft a running back in this year’s deep class or resort to the free agency pool to improve a rushing offense that ranked far below Jim Harbaugh’s standards.

Guard

Zion Johnson is sometimes inconsistent, but he will still be a starter on the left side in 2025. However, the team has a decision to make regarding his fifth-year option. On the right side, the team should seek reinforcements through the draft and free agency. Trey Pipkins was not good enough, particularly in pass protection.

Interior defensive line

Poona Ford is the big name to watch here, as he had a breakout season this year and is set to hit free agency. He was dominant on the inside, particularly in the run game. Even if Ford is brought back, this unit still needs some depth.

Cornerback

Kristian Fulton and Asante Samuel Jr. are set to become free agents, so the team must decide on those two first and foremost. Beyond that, Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still are in the plans after promising rookie seasons. The team will need depth, at minimum, at the position still. The front office may even consider getting a No. 1 corner in free agency if they lose Fulton and Samuel.

Edge defender

This is largely dependent on Khalil Mack’s fate. Mack will turn 34 in a little over a month. The veteran is coming off his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and he was phenomenal under Jesse Minter this year. The team should do everything in its power to bring him back, but if they do lose him, this becomes a huge area of concern. Additionally, the team could cut ties with Joey Bosa, who has struggled with injuries.

Draft picks

The Chargers have the No. 22 overall selection and are projected to have ten total picks in the 2025 NFL draft.

6 players the Chargers need to re-sign this offseason

We explore six of the best Chargers players on expiring contracts who L.A. should re-sign before 2025 NFL free agency begins.

Now that the season is over, the Chargers are turning their attention to building their roster for 2025. The first step is deciding which of their 30 looming free agents they will bring back.

Here are six of them that we want to make sure are re-signed.

EDGE Khalil Mack

The Chargers have made it clear that they would love to have Mack back, but he will now take the time to decide what he would like to do, with retirement being a potential option. Even though he will be 34 years old next season, Mack still has some gas left in the tank. He can still get after the quarterback and defend the run at a high level. Plus, Los Angeles could benefit from having a proven veteran in the edge defender room if the team moves on from Joey Bosa.

RB J.K. Dobbins

The Chargers took a chance on injury-riddled Dobbins, which paid off, as he was highly impactful. For the most part, he stayed healthy throughout the season, showing the player he was in college and during his rookie season. In 13 games, Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. After proving himself, he should return as the team’s primary back.

DL Poona Ford

How Ford wasn’t named a Pro Bowler is beyond me. Ford was a key cog on the defensive line, making his most significant impact against the run, where he was clogging running lanes, taking on double teams, and penetrating the backfield. He was the seventh-best defensive lineman out of 219 in run defense grade (78.8), according to Pro Football Focus. Ford had the fifth-best overall grade among all defensive linemen (85.1)

DL Teair Tart

If the Chargers want to build continuity along the defensive line, something they haven’t done in many years, it would be wise to bring back another key contributor. Tart wreaked havoc, not just against the run, but as a pass rusher. I imagine Tart won’t be as expensive as Ford might be, making this a no-brainer of a re-sign.

S Elijah Molden

Like Tart, Molden is another former Titans player who was signed by the Chargers right before the season and was an excellent player. Molden was a playmaker on the back end before his season-ending injury, finishing with career-highs in tackles (75), interceptions (3) and passes defended (7). His 75.6 PFF overall grade ranked 12th among qualified safeties, and his 75.4 PFF coverage grade was 11th.

S Tony Jefferson

Jefferson went from being retired and serving as a scouting intern for the Ravens to returning to the NFL and making plays for the Chargers every time he played, including the big forced and recovered fumble in the playoff game against the Texans. Even though he will be 33, Jefferson has made it clear that he wants to continue playing, so why not keep the SoCal native? Plus, it would be good to have another veteran in the safety room.

Chargers highlight: Teair Tart recovers fumble for second turnover of game

The Chargers are starting to reach a fever pitch on defense.

The Chargers are starting to reach a fever pitch on defense.

After intercepting rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the first quarter and jumping out to a 13-0 lead, it already looked like Los Angeles was in control of Sunday’s game. A twenty-play drive for the Chargers offense gave the defense plenty of rest midway through the second quarter, but LA allowed Denver to get the ball near midfield on their fourth drive of the game.

On a first down handoff, running back Javonte Williams plunged ahead up the middle. Khalil Mack and Teair Tart beat their blocks and teamed up for the tackle at the line of scrimmage, but Mack went above and beyond by ripping the ball out of Williams’ hands. The ball ricocheted into the arms of Tart on the ground, and he made the recovery on the Chargers 44-yard line.

The fumble recovery gave Los Angeles the ball back with 4:32 left in the first half, and the team already had a 13-point lead.

Report: Chargers signing DT Teair Tart

Teair Tart will come in and compete for a back-end roster spot.

The Chargers are signing defensive tackle Teair Tart, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The addition of Tart comes a day after the team hosted him on a visit. He boosts an interior defensive line with still a relatively young player who can make an impact against the run.

Tart spent a few months with the Dolphins before being released on Tuesday.

Before his time in Miami, Tart played four seasons with the Titans and two games with the Texans in 2023. In 47 contests (36 starts), he recorded 79 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception, seven passes defended and a fumble recovery.

Tart’s best season came in 2022 with Tennessee. That year, he recorded a career-high best 26 quarterback pressures and 23 run stops.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida International, Tart amassed 51 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his two collegiate seasons.

Mike McDaniel explains mid-training camp release of Teair Tart

The Dolphins cut ties with Teair Tart before he even appeared in a preseason game with the team.

The Miami Dolphins added Teair Tart earlier this year, but the former Tennessee Titans starter didn’t even appear in a preseason game with the team before he was released by the Dolphins earlier this week.

“Just one of those situations where you can see that from a scheme standpoint it’s not totally a fit,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel explained Wednesday. “And when you know that you have a veteran player that has ambitions that maybe as a coaching staff we can see it might not fit, we try to be proactive with that so he has the opportunity to – wish him well at his next place, but he has an opportunity at his next place to do what we know he wants to do.”

Prior to his release, Tart was listed as the second-team nose tackle for the Dolphins behind Benito Jones. Now that spot is filled by Brandon Pili, a second-year undrafted player who earned a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster a year ago and finished his rookie season on the practice squad.

Tart, 27, reportedly visited the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, a day after he was released by the Dolphins.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: DT Teair Tart visiting with the Chargers

Teair Tart is only two years removed from his best season.

The Chargers are hosting defensive tackle Teair Tart on a visit on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The visit comes a day after Tart was released by the Dolphins, who he signed with back in April.

Before his short stint in Miami, Tart played four years with the Titans and two games with the Texans in 2023. In 47 games (36 starts), Tart recorded 79 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception, seven passes defended, and a fumble recovery.

Tart’s best season came in 2022 with Tennessee. That year, he recorded a career-high best 26 quarterback pressures and 23 run stops.

The Chargers’ interior defensive line consists of Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe and Scott Matlock. But with there two weeks left of preseason play, the team is looking to bring in as many players they feel could compete for a roster spot.

Dolphins release DT Teair Tart after only 4 months

The Dolphins cut ties with one of the defensive linemen contending for roster spots up front.

The Miami Dolphins cut ties with veteran defensive tackle Teair Tart, who signed with the team earlier this year in April.

Tart, 27, was one of several defensive linemen added by the Dolphins, who lost both Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis in free agency. In addition to Tart, the Dolphins added Calais Campbell, Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore, and Isaiah Mack all to one-year deals.

While Tart was initially one of the favorites to earn a starting role in Miami, the former Tennessee Titans starter was listed with the second-team unit on the Dolphins’ first depth chart of the year.

Tart didn’t play in the Dolphins’ preseason opener, but other defensive tackles — Harris, Gallimore, and Brandon Pili, specifically — stood out against the Atlanta Falcons.

Tart began his career with the Titans, starting 36 games with the team before a rift with the team led to his release late in the 2023 season. He was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, but played only 29 defensive snaps with the team.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Teair Tart found Titans’ criticisms of his work ethic ‘really weird’

Teair Tart says the Dolphins don’t have to worry about his work ethic, which was questioned last year by the Titans.

Teair Tart rose from undrafted free agent to impact player during his first three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, but things went south between him and the franchise in 2023. When Tart was finally waived by the team in December, ESPN’s Turron Davenport reported it was “because of issues with his effort and attitude.”

Tart, who signed with the Miami Dolphins earlier this month, says he was puzzled by those criticisms.

“I was in Tennessee four years, I never had work ethic questions or work ethic issues until I asked for a release,” Tart told reporters Tuesday. “[With the Titans], you’ve got to play hard, you’ve got to practice hard – [so the criticism] I found really weird.

For the most part, that’s true. There’s little indication that the Titans had any issue with Tart’s effort level prior to 2023. The defensive tackle was even singled out a few times by then-head coach Mike Vrabel for extra work he put in during the offseason.

But talks of his effort and attitude also didn’t spring up when Tart and the Titans parted ways in December. The defensive tackle was kicked out of a training camp practice and frustrated coaches as the 2023 season went on. In October, Vrabel even called out Tart for “standing there watching while everyone else is playing” during a film breakdown segment on television.

“You can expect me to be competitive, spirited,” Tart said Tuesday. I’m not afraid to show emotion out there on the field and really get after it and compete. I’m really just excited for a new beginning honestly. Tennessee is the past.

“I think I just needed a culture change. I think it was just better to not be a part of that situation anymore.”

In 45 career games with the Titans, Tart recorded 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one interception.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bengals free agent target Teair Tart signs with Dolphins

A target of the Bengals in free agency has signed elsewhere.

Apparent Cincinnati Bengals free-agent target Teair Tart has signed elsewhere on the open market.

The veteran defensive lineman is off to join the Miami Dolphins not long after a reported visit with the Bengals.

It never sounded like said visit was going to lead to a signing. A visit was a predictable outcome, though, after the Bengals were one of the teams that attempted to claim Tart on waivers last season.

The Bengals have otherwise pivoted to Sheldon Rankins as the DJ Reader replacement, with the organization recently commenting on that change. Reader, too, has had some interesting comments about his departure from the Bengals.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ex-Titans DL Teair Tart is signing with Dolphins

Former Titans DL Teair Tart is signing with the Dolphins.

Former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Teair Tart has finally found a new home in free agency.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Tart is signing with the Miami Dolphins. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reveals it’s a one-year deal but didn’t disclose the financial terms.

Tart is the second former Titan who is taking his talents to South Beach this offseason after center Aaron Brewer also signed with Miami. They both reunite with former Titans linebacker David Long, also.

Tart was an undrafted free-agent signing of the Titans in 2020 and worked his way into a starting role by 2021, where he proved to be a force in the run game but didn’t offer much as a pass-rusher which, in tandem with conditioning issues, prevented him from getting more snaps.

Things started going off the rails for Tart in 2023 after he appeared to be unhappy with the fact that he had to play on a one-year tender instead of a long-term contract.

From there, Tart had attitude and effort issues, which led to the Titans letting him go late in the season. He then latched on with the Houston Texans, where he appeared in two games and played just 29 snaps on defense before being inactive during the playoffs.

Tart is no doubt a difference-maker in the run game, but he’s got some work to do if he wants to truly maximize his potential and eventually cash in on a lucrative, long-term deal.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]