Chargers Could Re-Sign WR Keenan Allen
Wide receiver Keenan Allen has played all but one of his 13 NFL seasons with the Chargers. Then based in San Diego, the Bolts took Allen in the third round of the 2013 draft. He turned into one of the best players in franchise history. Allen ranks first among Chargers in catches (985), second in yards (11,307) and third in receiving touchdowns (63).
After spending 2024 in Chicago, where he racked up 70 of his 1,055 career receptions, Allen reunited with the Chargers on a one-year, $8.52MM last August. Allen went on to average a career-low 9.6 yards per catch in his first career 17-game season, but he led the team in receptions (81) and targets (122). He also pulled in four touchdowns.
Allen returned to free agency back in March, but he is once again unsigned late in the spring. The Chargers have not ruled out a new deal for the 34-year-old, though.
In a Thursday appearance on Up & Adams, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz told Kay Adams that the “door is not closed” on bringing Allen back. Hortiz revealed he has had “some communication with [Allen’s] representation.”
While Hortiz is not ruling out another go-around with Allen, he noted the Chargers want to let their current receivers “grow and develop.” In his three drafts atop the Chargers’ front office, Hortiz has added Ladd McConkey (2024) and Tre Harris (2025) in the second round, Brenen Thompson in the fourth round (2026) and Keandre Lambert-Smith in the fifth round (’25). Hortiz also exercised Quentin Johnston‘s fifth-year option for 2027 earlier this offseason.
Like Allen, McConkey carries significant experience in the slot. As things stand, he and Johnston are the Chargers’ top two at the position. The team also has a couple of capable pass-catching tight ends in Oronde Gadsden and recent free agent pickup David Njoku, further adding to quarterback Justin Herbert‘s options. As a fifth-round rookie last year, Gadsden far exceeded expectations during a 49-catch, 664-yard campaign. Meanwhile, although he took a backseat to Browns third-rounder Harold Fannin in 2025, Njoku notched 33 receptions and four scores in 12 games.
The Chargers still have over $45MM in cap space, giving them plenty of room to re-sign Allen. Even if Allen does not end up as a member of the Chargers’ receiving corps in 2026, he should be able to find a taker before the season. For now, he and other established wideouts like Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel and DeAndre Hopkins are in limbo.
Chargers DL Coach Mike Elston Turned Down DC Interview
The Chargers interviewed several internal candidates to replace former defensive coordinator (and now Ravens head coach) Jesse Minter, but defensive line coach Mike Elston‘s name was not on the list.
That was not for a lack of interest on the team’s part. Elston revealed this week (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) that head coach Jim Harbaugh approached him about a promotion to DC, but he declined to interview for the job.
Elston, 51, has been Harbaugh’s defensive line coach for the last four years. At Michigan, he coached future first-rounders Mazi Smith, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant. In Los Angeles, his line anchored the Chargers’ top-10 defense in each of the last two years despite the team’s relative lack of investment in the unit.
That success naturally piqued Harbaugh’s interest when searching for Minter’s replacement, but Elston no longer has “aspirations of running a defense” and remains committed to working with the Chargers’ defensive line.
An unambitious coach is an underrated advantage in the NFL. If Elston turned down an interview for the Chargers’ DC job, he is probably not interested in moving to another team. As long as he remains in Los Angeles, the Chargers should have a solid defensive line without worry of their veteran coach being poached by another club.
Chargers’ Chad Alexander Withdraws From Vikings’ GM Search
Chad Alexander was among the staffers who recently received an interview request from the Vikings in the early stages of their general manager search. A departure from the Chargers will not be taking place, however.
Alexander has declined the interview request and withdrawn his name from consideration, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. As a result, Los Angeles’ assistant general manager will be remaining in place moving forward. Alexander has been a member of the Bolts’ front office since 2024, the year in which Joe Hortiz was hired as GM.
Hortiz and Alexander worked together in Baltimore, and they reunited in Los Angeles shortly after Hortiz was tapped to lead the Chargers. Alexander has been an NFL staffer since 1999, and he worked as a member of the Ravens’ front office until 2018. Over that span, he served as a scout but also a member of the team’s pro personnel department.
Alexander was with the Jets from 2019-23. He operated as New York’s director of player personnel during that time. Upon arrival with the Chargers, he took on his current AGM title. Alexander will now remain in that role for at least one more season, although it will of course be interesting to see if he receives further general manager interview requests during the 2027 hiring cycle.
The Vikings promoted Rob Brzezinski to the role of interim GM in the wake of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing. He led Minnesota’s front office through free agency and the draft before the team’s outside search for a full-time general manager began. Brzezinski is interested in the GM gig, but interviews with other candidates will take place before a final decision is made.
Today’s news takes Alexander out of the running and thins the list of candidates – which was believed to be finalized – for the Vikings to choose from. John McKay (Rams), R.J. Gillen (49ers), Nolan Teasley (Seahawks) and Terrance Gray (Bills) are still in the running at this time.
Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract
Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).
Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.
Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner; March 14, 2022: Three years, $21MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard
Atlanta Falcons
- Devonta Freeman; August 9, 2017: Five years, $41.25MM ($22.1MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry; May 19, 2025: Two years, $30MM ($25MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- James Cook; August 13, 2025: Four years, $46MM ($28.82MM guaranteed)
LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total
Carolina Panthers
- Christian McCaffrey; April 13, 2020: Four years, $64.1MM ($38.16MM guaranteed)
Chicago Bears
- Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)
D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact
Cleveland Browns
- Nick Chubb; July 31, 2021: Three years, $36.6MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott; September 4, 2019: Six years, $90MM ($50.1MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Melvin Gordon; March 20, 2020: Two years, $16MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Detroit Lions
- Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)
David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Jones; March 14, 2021: Four years, $48MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees
Houston Texans
- Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)
Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor; October 7, 2023: Three years, $42MM ($26.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maurice Jones-Drew; April 15, 2009: Five years, $31.1MM ($14.25MM guaranteed)
Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kenneth Walker; March 9, 2026: Three years, $43.1MM ($28.7MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs; August 26, 2023: One year, $11.79MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed
Los Angeles Chargers
- LaDainian Tomlinson; August 15, 2004: Six years, $48MM ($21MM guaranteed)
Los Angeles Rams
- Todd Gurley; July 24, 2018: Four years, $57.5MM ($45MM guaranteed)
Miami Dolphins
- De’Von Achane; May 13, 2026: Four years, $64MM ($32MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)
New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson; June 20, 2024: Four years, $36MM ($17.12MM guaranteed)
New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara; September 12, 2020: Five years, $75MM ($33.83MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Saquon Barkley; March 7, 2023: One year, $10.1MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal
New York Jets
- Breece Hall; May 8, 2026: Three years, $43.5MM ($29MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Saquon Barkley; March 4, 2025: Two years, $41.2MM ($36MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Le’Veon Bell; February 27, 2017: One year, $12.12MM franchise tag ($12.12MM guaranteed)
Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal
San Francisco 49ers
- Christian McCaffrey; June 4, 2024: Two years, $38MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Marshawn Lynch; March 4, 2012: Four years, $30MM ($17MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Doug Martin; March 9, 2016: Five years, $35.75MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry; July 15, 2020: Four years, $50MM ($25.5MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/26
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Stephen Dix Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Waived/failed physical: TE Luke Lachey
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Mante’ Morrow
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Terrill Davis
- Waived: OLB Jordan Botelho
New York Giants
- Signed: OLB Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: CB Thaddeus Dixon
New York Jets
- Waived: K Will Ferrin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Rashad Rochelle, WR Trayvon Rudolph
- Waived: OLB Devean Deal
- Waived/failure to disclose physical condition: WR Michael Briscoe
Dixon suffered an Achilles tear during a Wednesday workout with the Giants, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Dixon was part of New York’s six-man UDFA class, joining the team after a college tenure at North Carolina. Ranked by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler as a top-200 prospect in this year’s class, Dixon will likely miss the season. A return after an injury settlement would be the only way Dixon could play for the Giants this season.
The Jets included Ferrin among their 12-man priority free agent class, but he will not make it far into the offseason with the team. New York still rosters kickers Cade York and Lenny Krieg.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/26
Today’s midweek minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): WR Brenden Rice
Houston Texans
- Waived (with injury designation): OLB Xavier Thomas
Los Angeles Chargers
- Reverted to IR: CB Jeremiah Wilson
New York Jets
- Waived (with injury settlement): S Chris Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Makari Paige
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/12/26
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Shane Zylstra
- Waived: K Maddux Trujillo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
- Waived: RB Deuce Vaughn, CB Will Wright
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DB M.J. Devonshire (from Bills), TE Luke Lachey (from Texans)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Johnny Pascuzzi, S Myles Purchase, OT Laekin Vakalahi
- Waived: OLB Niles King, TE Tanner McLachlan, TE Thomas Yassmin
- Waived/injured: CB Jeremiah Wilson
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserved/retired list: RB Le’Veon Moss
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived/failed physical: CB Cory Trice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Caden Fordham
Chargers, TE David Njoku Agree To Deal
David Njoku recently visited the Chargers. That summit clearly went well, as a contract agreement is now in place between Los Angeles and the veteran tight end.
Team and player have finalized a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds this pact has a maximum value of $8MM. After nine years in Cleveland, Njoku’s next career phase has been lined up.
The tight end position has seen plenty of turnover this spring in the case of the Chargers. Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk are still on the market deep into the offseason. Tyler Conklin, meanwhile, left via free agency. Los Angeles added Charlie Kolar in March, but the team did not select any tight ends during the draft. That left the door open to a deal for Njoku, and one is now in place.
Over the course of his Browns tenure, Njoku regularly found himself atop the tight end depth chart. The former first-rounder battled injuries and inconsistencies along the way, but he secured a big-money deal in 2022. Njoku’s best season came one year later (81-882-6 statline) and resulted in a Pro Bowl nod. His playing time dropped in 2024 and again in 2025, however, and the Browns have Harold Fannin Jr. in place as their starting tight end for the foreseeable future after a standout rookie campaign. It has been clear since February Njoku would not be coming back to Cleveland.
Jim Harbaugh remains in place as the Chargers’ head coach, but 2026 will mark the first year of his NFL coaching career in which Greg Roman is not his offensive coordinator. Mike McDaniel is in place as the Bolts’ new OC, his first gig since being dismissed as head coach of the Dolphins. It will be interesting to see how McDaniel uses Njoku and Kolar as Los Angeles looks to find improved efficiency in the passing game this season.
The Chargers entered Monday with over $45MM in cap space. That figure will be lowered once the Njoku deal is officially in place, but it will leave plenty of available funds for further late-offseason additions.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/11/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Detroit Lions
- EDGE Derrick Moore (second round, Michigan)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (fourth round, Michigan)
- CB Keith Abney II (fifth round, Arizona State)
- WR Kendrick Law (fifth round, Kentucky)
- DT Skyler Gill-Howard (sixth round, Texas Tech)
- DT Tyre West (seventh round, Tennessee)
Houston Texans
- S Kamari Ramsey (fifth round, USC)
- WR Lewis Bond (sixth round, Boston College)
- LB Aiden Fisher (seventh round, Indiana)
Los Angeles Chargers
- C Jake Slaughter (second round, Florida)
Los Angeles Rams
- OT Keagen Trost (third round, Missouri)
- WR CJ Daniels (sixth round, Miami)
New York Giants
- CB Colton Hood (second round, Tennessee)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/8/26
Today’s rookie signings from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- WR Zavion Thomas (third round, LSU)
- CB Malik Muhammad (fourth round, Texas)
- LB Keyshaun Elliott (fifth round, Arizona State)
- DT Jordan van den Berg (sixth round, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- C Connor Lew (fourth round, Auburn)
- WR Colbie Young (fourth round, Georgia)
- T Brian Parker II (sixth round, Duke)
- TE Jack Endries (seventh round, Texas)
- DT Landon Robinson (seventh round, Navy)
Los Angeles Chargers
- T Travis Burke (fourth round, Memphis)
- S Genesis Smith (fourth round, Arizona)
- DT Nick Barrett (fifth round, South Carolina)
- G Logan Taylor (sixth round, Boston College)
- G Alex Harkey (sixth round, Oregon)
New England Patriots
- T Dametrious Crownover (sixth round, Texas A&M)
- LB Namdi Obiazor (sixth round, TCU)
- QB Behren Morton (seventh round, Texas Tech)
- RB Jam Miller (seventh round, Alabama)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Kaden Wetjen (fourth round, Iowa)
- DE Gabriel Rubio (sixth round, Notre Dame)
- S Robert Spears-Jennings (seventh round, Oklahoma)
The Bears, Bengals, Chargers, and Steelers all broke the seals on signing their rookie classes today. Chicago only has to sign its three first-, second-, and third-round picks to complete the class, Los Angeles still has its three first-, second-, and fourth-rounders remaining, and Cincinnati has only two unsigned rookies from the second and third round.