After playing out his rookie contract in Baltimore, Charlie Kolar has secured a major raise on his next deal. A notable agreement with the Chargers has been worked out.
Team and player agreed to terms on a three-year contract Monday, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. This $24.3MM pact will include $17MM guaranteed, per the report. That will make Kolar the NFL’s highest-paid blocking tight end at $8.1MM per year. He is following in the footsteps of Josh Oliver, who cut his teeth as a blocker in Baltimore and earned a solid payday in free agency from the Vikings as a result.
The former Iowa State standout was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth-round of the 2022 draft, 11 picks ahead of fellow Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely. Likely emerged as the better pass-catching tight end over the last four years, earning himself a three-year, $40MM contract with John Harbaugh‘s Giants. Kolar, who primarily proved himself as a blocker, will also be going to a popular destination for former Ravens in Los Angeles, where Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has added many players he once scouted in Baltimore.
Kolar has plenty of untapped receiving potential in his 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame. In fact, he was better known as a pass-catching threat coming out of college and made huge strides as a blocker in Baltimore. He will pair with 2025 rookie breakout Oronde Gadsden – who is not as strong of a blocker – to form a young, high-upside tight end duo. Kolar can take on a bigger role as an inline tight end to free Gadsden up to exploit mismatches in the slot, both against slower linebackers in the pass game and smaller defensive backs in the run game.
The Chargers’ move to sign Kolar for a premium price indicates that they will continue to use plenty of two-tight end packages on offense in 2026 despite the departure of offensive coordinator Greg Roman (who coached Kolar as a rookie in 2022). His replacement, Mike McDaniel, did not feature tight ends heavily in the passing game, but used them extensively as blockers, indicating there will be plenty of work for Kolar in Los Angeles.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
This could work out nicely. Decent pass catching chops he never got all that much chance to show, and he can legit play inline tight end, which is nice for a team that already has Gadsden, who can’t.
@Oooof. I saw the price of the deal, and freaked out. I guess hortiz knows him, and I’ve been hearing he’s good just was behind Andrews, and likely. Guess kolar, ingold, biadasz is a start to fixing the line
Kolar was a really good receiving TE at Iowa State so he’s potentially more than just a blocking TE.
Solid signing.
I like what they’ve done overall and this move is expensive but takes advantage of Gadsden being on a rookie deal. Spending what they are spending collectively on the tight end position for the (hopeful) production and blocking is a good deal
Not bad chunk of change for a perpetual third string tight end. Great at blocking
For a team that saw both their tackle go down and watch Herbert get demolished in the playoffs due to having the 32nd ranked group up front. I totally get investing in a premium TE that can help in the run game to have Hampton take pressure off Herbert and help chip block guys as need be in pass situations
I think Charlie has some nice upside and is more than just a blocker. The Chargers fans were spoiled for years with outstanding TE play from Antonio Gates.