Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors

AFC Workouts: Snead, Texans, Mims

Willie Snead hasn’t seen much success in the NFL since his departure from Baltimore following the 2020 season. The 32-year-old veteran receiver bounced around over the next two years, splitting his 2021 campaign between the Raiders and Panthers before spending two seasons in San Francisco. After an injury placed him on the Dolphins’ injured reserve in last year’s preseason, resulting in him getting cut and sitting out the entire season, Snead is attempting a comeback with a recent tryout with the Chargers.

Los Angeles attempted to improve their receiving corps this offseason through the draft with additions like Ole Miss’ Tre Harris in the second round and Auburn’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth. Their top returning wideouts from last year include Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis, and an aging Mike Williams has returned after a year away. The team hosted Snead for a veteran tryout earlier this week, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

Adding Snead would provide some veteran depth to the group. Though he had some resurgent seasons catching balls from Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, he was never able to reach the heights of his surprising first two campaigns in New Orleans. Since leaving the Ravens, his production has been minimal, so it will likely take a stellar tryout to convince the next team to sign him.

Here are a few more workout updates from around the AFC:

  • The Texans continue to work out cornerbacks as the offseason carries on. After the team hosted former Raiders first-round pick Damon Arnette on Monday, Houston welcomed Duke Shelley and Keenan Isaac in the days after, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Shelley, a six-year veteran, has 11 starts in his career over time with the Bears and Vikings. The last two years, though, have seen him relegated to specials teams with the Rams and the practice squad of the Giants. Isaac, a former undrafted signee for Tampa Bay in 2023, spent this past United Football League season with Arnette on the Houston Roughnecks.
  • Lastly, the Browns worked out former Saints running back Jordan Mims, per Wilson. With a deep, young group of rushers already on the roster, Mims potential signing would add some camp depth with the possibility of him contributing on special teams as a returner.

LT Rashawn Slater Expects To Sign Chargers Extension

Rashawn Slater was away from the Chargers during OTAs, but he was in attendance for this week’s mandatory minicamp. When speaking about that decision and his ongoing extension talks, the Pro Bowl left tackle struck an optimistic tone.

As things stand, Slater is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025. He is owed $19.04MM for the year, but negotiations on a long-term deal have been taking place for much of the offseason. A raise will be in store for the 26-year-old once an extension is agreed to, although it remains to be seen when that will be the case. Slater declined to say if he would give thought to a holdout in the event no deal were to be in hand by training camp.

“We’ll see,” the former No. 13 pick said (via the team’s website). “I think, you know, my agent obviously is having those conversations on my behalf, so for me I’m just focused on training and whatever happens happens.”

When asked about Slater’s situation, head coach Jim Harbaugh echoed the previous sentiments of general manager Joe Hortiz that the team aims to hammer out a long-term accord. Work still needs to be done of course, but Slater noted he expects that will take place. The Northwestern product was limited to three games in 2022, but otherwise he has proven to be durable protecting Justin Herbert‘s blindside. Slater earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and repeated that feat in 2024, the first season of Los Angeles’ tackle tandem with he and Joe Alt.

Selected fifth overall in his draft class, Alt could take over the left tackle spot in the event Slater were to depart in free agency next spring. The Chargers could ensure an effective setup at both talks spots for years to come with a long-term Slater pact, though, and finalizing one will be a priority for the summer. Los Angeles’ blindside blocker will no doubt look to join the 15 tackles currently earning $20MM or more annually; in any case, he will remain the team’s highest-paid O-lineman by a comfortable margin if and when a second contract is signed.

With spring work now in the books, Slater’s attention could turn to the matter of his extension. Questions about training camp participation will increase if he remains a pending free agent by mid-July. For now, at least, he is at ease with respect to his financial outlook.

“I have no concern about it at all,” he added. “Realistically speaking, I’ve known for a long time, it’s how these things go. It’s not something that’s bothered me. It’s just the business of football so I have full confidence. I feel good.”

Bolts Offered J.K. Dobbins Deal To Return

It took nearly three months in free agency for J.K. Dobbins to find a home, but he has since committed to relocate from Los Angeles. The Broncos have announced their signing, as the veteran running back is now on a one-year, $2.75MM contract.

Dobbins’ Denver visit last week came as he was technically still tied to the Chargers, who slapped the rarely used UFA tender on their primary 2024 starting running back. That now only pertains to a potential 2026 compensatory pick, as both the teams that used the UFA tender this year (along with the Browns’ Elijah Moore move) have seen the players move on. But Dobbins did loom larger on the Bolts’ radar screen earlier this offseason.

Before the Chargers’ Najee Harris signing, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer indicates the team had extended an offer to Dobbins to stay. Dobbins had outplayed the $1.61MM deal he signed, leapfrogging ex-Ravens teammate Gus Edwards — who was attached to a slightly higher-priced contract (two years, $6.5MM) — to start for an eventual playoff team. He came up as a player the Chargers had designs on keeping, but an extensive medical sheet continued to give teams pause in free agency.

Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards last season, doing so despite missing more time due to injury. Dobbins’ IR stint, due to an MCL sprain, only covered the four-game minimum. This certainly helped him secure a raise from the Broncos, even if significant injury concerns remain due to the former second-rounder’s Baltimore stay.

While Dobbins narrowly edged Nick Chubb‘s $2.5MM Texans contract, it is worth wondering if the 26-year-old RB would have made more had he simply agreed to stay in L.A. The Bolts made a “pretty decent” proposal to re-sign Dobbins, per Breer. Considering they gave Harris $5.25MM in base value, it can reasonably be expected Dobbins passed on an offer worth more than what he will make in Denver. Though, it is not known if his $2.5MM incentive package features reasonable goals.

The Chargers included $4.25MM worth of incentives in Harris’ deal, and Dobbins’ injury past (47 missed games) pointed to the Bolts proposing an incentive-laden contract to him as well. The Chargers also carried considerable familiarity with Dobbins, due to GM Joe Hortiz having been hired from the Ravens (and Jim Harbaugh being rather close to the Baltimore HC). But they soon made a substantial commitment to heading in a different direction by drafting Omarion Hampton in Round 1.

Regularly mocked to the Broncos at No. 20, Hampton instead slipped down two spots and becomes the Bolts’ long-term option. He and Harris represent safer bets compared to what the Broncos have assembled, investment-wise at least, as the 2021 first-rounder has missed zero games in Pittsburgh while Hampton checked in as the clear second-best RB prospect in this year’s class. The Chargers have not been shy about first-round RB investments this century, having chosen three (LaDainian Tomlinson, Ryan Mathews, Melvin Gordon), and a team that has become more run-centric will turn to Hampton alongside Harris this season.

Denver will bet on Dobbins helping keep second-round pick R.J. Harvey — a player not viewed as a consensus second-round talent — fresh, as Sean Payton has enjoyed success with this type of committee in New Orleans. But the Broncos will need to factor Dobbins’ knee trouble into their roster calculous this summer.

Chargers Extend OLB Bud Dupree

The Chargers signed outside linebacker Bud Dupree to a two-year, $6MM contract last year, and after some decent production coming off the bench, the veteran pass rusher will avoid playing 2025 on a contract year. The team made the announcement today that they have extended Dupree’s contract by one year. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that the additional year will be worth the same amount as his initial contract with the team, earning him an additional $6MM.

Dupree started his career a decade ago as Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2015 out of Kentucky. With an aging James Harrison playing his final years in Pittsburgh, Dupree was intended to be the future of the Steelers’ pass rushing attack. Unfortunately, Dupree struggled to deliver in his first few years, so the team spent another Day 1 pick on the pass rush two years later, bringing in T.J. Watt.

The team gambled on exercising Dupree’s fifth-year option, and he delivered a breakout 11.5-sack season playing across from a budding Watt. The career-year earned him one more season under the franchise tag, and Dupree was on an even better pace with eight sacks in 11 games before tearing his ACL, effectively ending his time with the Steelers.

Dupree’s strong seasons still earned him big bucks in free agency, helping him land in Tennessee on a five-year, $82.5MM contract. Unfortunately, injuries persisted upon his return to the field, and for the second and third years in a row, Dupree only played in 11 games in each of his first two seasons with the Titans. Even more concerning, the promise Dupree had previously shown across from Watt before his ACL tear had disappeared, and in 22 games with his new team, Dupree had only logged seven sacks.

The Titans cut bait with Dupree only two years into his five-year deal, but Dupree rebounded on a one-year, $3MM deal in Atlanta. After spending a resurgent year with the Falcons, in which he started 16 games and recorded 6.5 sacks, Dupree found himself debating returns to Pittsburgh or Atlanta in free agency. Ultimately, a surprise Chargers visit came up and he ended up in Los Angeles.

Dupree spent last year solely coming off the bench. It was the first season of his career in which he did not start a single contest. It was also the first time since 2019 that he appeared in every game of a season, though. While not making any starts, Dupree still saw the field plenty, logging more defensive snaps than an ailing Joey Bosa, while Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu anchored the outside linebacker spots. He also outpaced Bosa in sacks, finishing tied for second on the team with Mack with six; Tuipulotu led the team with 8.5.

Now, with Bosa having departed in free agency, Dupree’s extended time solidifies some depth in the team’s pass rush for another season. The only other addition the Chargers made to the group this offseason was South Carolina rookie Kyle Kennard, whom they drafted in the fourth round. With Mack and Tuipulotu leading the pass rush, Dupree will serve as an example for Kennard of how to make the most of your contributions off the bench.

2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team

This week started with a point on the NFL calendar that has been important for decades. Although teams have not needed to wait until June to make their most expensive cuts in many years, they do not see the funds from post-June 1 designations until that point.

With June 1 coming and going, a fourth of the league has seen the savings from post-June 1 releases arrive. That has affected the NFL’s cap-space hierarchy. Here is how every team stands (via OverTheCap) following June 2 changes:

  1. New England Patriots: $67.34MM
  2. San Francisco 49ers: $53.49MM
  3. Detroit Lions: $40.12MM
  4. New York Jets: $39.8MM
  5. Las Vegas Raiders: $36.16MM
  6. Arizona Cardinals: $32.11MM
  7. Dallas Cowboys: $32.11MM
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers: $31.88MM
  9. Seattle Seahawks: $31.21MM
  10. Tennessee Titans: $30.16MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $28.94MM
  12. Cincinnati Bengals: $27.08MM
  13. Los Angeles Chargers: $26.83MM
  14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $26.63MM
  15. Jacksonville Jaguars: $26.54MM
  16. Philadelphia Eagles: $25.79MM
  17. New Orleans Saints: $22.62MM
  18. Washington Commanders: $21.13MM
  19. Indianapolis Colts: $20.09MM
  20. Los Angeles Rams: $19.44MM
  21. Baltimore Ravens: $18.95MM
  22. Carolina Panthers: $18.69MM
  23. Minnesota Vikings: $18.49MM
  24. Cleveland Browns: $18.2MM
  25. Houston Texans: $16.3MM
  26. Denver Broncos: $16.23MM
  27. Chicago Bears: $14.76MM
  28. Miami Dolphins: $13.81MM
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: $10.75MM
  30. Atlanta Falcons: $5.02MM
  31. New York Giants: $3.82MM
  32. Buffalo Bills: $1.69MM

The Jets saw their situation change the most from post-June 1 designations, as $13.5MM became available to the team after its Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley cuts. Teams have up to two post-June 1 designations at their disposals. Five clubs — the Jets, Browns, Ravens, Eagles and 49ers — used both slots. Only three other teams made a post-June 1 cut before that seminal date. The eight that made these moves will have dead money split between 2025 and 2026.

Baltimore used the cost-defraying option to release Marcus Williams and Justin Tucker, while Cleveland — in Year 4 of the regrettable Deshaun Watson partnership — used it to move on from Juan Thornhill and Dalvin Tomlinson. As the Eagles’ option bonus-heavy payroll included two hefty bonus numbers for Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the reigning Super Bowl champions released both 30-something cornerbacks. Together, Slay and Bradberry will count more than $20MM on Philadelphia’s 2026 cap sheet. As for this year, though, the Browns, Eagles, Ravens and 49ers respectively saved $9.85MM, $9.4MM, $6.3MM, $6.4MM and $5.6MM, according to Spotrac.

The Jaguars made a mid-offseason decision to release Gabe Davis, doing so not long after trading up to draft Travis Hunter — with the plan to primarily play him at wide receiver — at No. 2 overall. Off-field issues, coupled with a down 2024 season, made Tucker expendable — after the Ravens drafted Tyler Loop in Round 6. The Vikings moved off Garrett Bradbury‘s contract and will replace him with free agency addition Ryan Kelly, while Mason lasted two seasons paired with C.J. Stroud‘s rookie deal. The 49ers made it known early they were moving on from Javon Hargrave, while 2024 trade addition Maliek Collins also exited the team’s D-tackle room.

Derek Carr‘s retirement being processed Tuesday also changed the Saints’ funding. The team will spread the dead money ($50.13MM) across two years. Even with the number being reduced this year, the Saints will be hit with the second-highest single-player dead money hit (behind only the Broncos’ Russell Wilson separation) in NFL history as a result of the Carr exit. The Saints will only be responsible for $19.21MM of that total in 2025. As they did with Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox‘s retirements last year, the Eagles will also process Brandon Graham‘s hit this way.

Eight of this year’s post-June 1 releases remain in free agency. The Patriots added Bradbury to replace the now-retired David Andrews, while the Vikings scooped up Hargrave. As the Steelers await Rodgers’ decision, they added two other post-June 1 releases in Slay and Thornhill. Tomlinson joined the Cardinals not long after his Browns release.

AFC West Rumors: Bozeman, Mahomes, Rice, Raiders

The Chargers‘ interior offensive line blocking was a weakness of the team in 2024. The team addressed the right guard position by signing Mekhi Becton after the former first-round pick had a breakout season in Philadelphia. The center and left guard spots, though, are currently a bit more up in the air as Los Angeles has been experimenting with swapping Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson from the positions at which they started in 2024.

As the team has continued in this experiment, Daniel Popper of The Athletic has called into question whether or not Bozeman will start at all. While Bozeman has been a starting lineman in the NFL for most of the past four seasons, he has never graded out as one of the NFL’s best interior blockers, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Bozeman filled starting roles at left guard and center for the Ravens throughout his rookie contract, but they allowed him to walk in free agency. He signed with Carolina as a backup, only earning the starting center role because of injury. The Panthers did re-sign him, but they quickly released him only a year into his three-year, $18MM deal.

After he started for a year in Los Angeles, the Chargers gave him a more reserved two-year, $6.5MM deal. Popper seems pretty sure that Johnson will be starting, though whether at center or left guard remains to be seen. He thinks Bozeman could end up starting at the other position, but the team has set themselves up well regardless. Free agent signing Andre James provides insurance at center, while Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer both started games at guard last year and could potentially step in if Bozeman struggles. The Chargers also drafted Branson Taylor out of Pittsburgh in the sixth round and worked him at left guard in rookie minicamp. Suffice it to say, Los Angeles has plenty of options as they continue to try and improve their interior offensive line.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of the AFC West, starting with a couple from Kansas City:

  • There was a bit of chatter after it was decided that NFL players would be allowed to participate in flag football in the 2028 Olympics concerning which players would be best suited to represent Team USA. One player sure to show up on many people’s dream team took himself out of the running. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters he was not planning on playing, saying that he would “leave that to the younger guys.”
  • Another Chiefs player is making less light-hearted news as wide receiver Rashee Rice continues in his legal struggles. Per Mike Florio of NBC Sports, Rice is now facing a third lawsuit related to the street-racing crash in Dallas back in March of 2024. Kayla Quinn is the latest person to allege that she and her son sustained physical and mental injuries as a result of the incident.
  • According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Raiders have developed a reputation for traditionally operating in a cash-poor manner. New limited owner Tom Brady has reportedly made it known that he intends to change that reputation. Per Breer, Brady promised any coaching candidates in January that he and his fellow new limited partners would “materially change” the team’s spending habits.

Chargers CB Cam Hart Out Until Minicamp After Shoulder Surgery

Chargers cornerback Cam Hart will be sidelined until mandatory minicamp as he recovers from shoulder surgery, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

Hart tore his labrum during the Chargers’ wild card loss to the Texans in January. He underwent surgery shortly after and is awaiting medical clearance before he returns to the field.

The 2024 fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame started six straight regular season games in his rookie year after Asante Samuel Jr. landed on injured reserve in Week 5. Two concussions and an ankle injury limited Hart in November and December, but he returned to the Chargers’ starting lineup in the playoffs.

The Chargers have plenty of cornerback depth if Hart suffers any setbacks in his recovery, even with Samuel no longer in Los Angeles. Tarheeb Still, who was taken three picks before Hart, started 12 games last year, and 2022 sixth-rounder Ja’Sir Taylor had a 32.2% snap share. The team also signed veteran Donte Jackson this offseason; he started 31 games over the last two seasons for the Panthers and the Steelers.

If Hart can re-establish himself alongside Still later this summer, the Chargers will have a cheap starting outside cornerback duo for the next three years. That’s an excellent return on a pair of fifth-round picks and, along with Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey, represents a strong start to general manager Joe Hortiz‘s draft history

Chargers’ Rashawn Slater Absent From OTAs

During each of his first four seasons in the NFL, Rashawn Slater attended the opening session of organized team activities. The Chargers’ left tackle has deviated from that trend in 2025, though.

Slater was absent from the beginning of Los Angeles’ OTAs, as detailed by Gavino Borquez of ChargersWire. The move comes against the backdrop of an extension being sought in this case. The 26-year-old is currently set to play out his fifth-year option in 2025.

Since joining the Bolts as a first-round pick, Slater has handled full-time starting duties on the blindside. He earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and added another to his resume in 2024. The intervening years included a biceps tear which limited him to three games in 2022, but he managed to play a full campaign the following season. With his value to the Chargers’ offensive line well established, extension talks have unsurprisingly taken place since at least February.

Not long after the draft, it became clear team and player were still discussing a long-term pact. General manager Joe Hortiz expressed his desire for an agreement to be reached, but that is obviously not the case yet. Voluntary workouts will continue for the Chargers until mandatory minicamp takes place from June 10-12. The prospect of fines for missed time would only emerge if Slater remained absent for that event.

The Northwestern product is owed $19.04MM in 2025 as a result of Los Angeles’ decision to pick up his option last spring. That figure is guaranteed in full, but an extension will bring with it plenty more in terms of locked in compensation as well as a raise. 15 offensive tackles are currently attached to a deal averaging at least $20MM per year, with six carrying an AAV of $25MM or more. The latter group includes right tackles Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson, though, so Slater would be joining exclusive company in terms of blindside protectors if his new deal were to check in at the higher rate.

The Chargers used the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft on Joe Alt, and he operated at right tackle as a rookie. The Notre Dame product looms as a potential successor to Slater given his college experience on the opposite side, but the team would of course prefer to keep its tandem in place for years to come. Doing so will require working out a lucrative pact for Slater, and there is still clearly progress to be made on that front.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman Fully Healthy

Denzel Perryman exited the Chargers’ wild-card loss with an elbow injury, one which required a notable recovery process. The veteran linebacker has returned to full strength, however.

Perryman recently revealed he has been cleared (h/t team reporter Eric Smith). As a result, he will be able to participate fully in the team’s upcoming OTAs as well as minicamp in June. A healthy campaign will be key for the 32-year-old since he enters the season as a pending free agent.

Perryman spent his first six seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Panthers in 2021. By the team the season started, he found himself back in the AFC West by means of a trade to the Raiders. The former second-rounder spent one season in Vegas, enjoying a career year and earning a Pro Bowl nod along the way. That was followed by another one-and-done campaign, this time with the Texans.

Last spring, Perryman returned to the Bolts on a one-year deal. He reprised his role as a full-time starter at the linebacker spot, registering 55 tackles and one sack in 11 regular season games. The Miami product managed to return for Los Angeles’ wild-card loss to Houston, but he was sidelined for much of the contest due to the elbow ailment. During the opening stages of free agency this year, Perryman secured another one-year Chargers pact.

That deal – which contains a base value of $2.65MM and includes up to $1.1MM in bonuses – will be expected to again yield a strong showing for the Chargers’ defense. In 2024, under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Los Angeles enjoyed a notable rebound on that side of the ball. Perryman will aim to continue as a first-team presence and in doing so help his market value for 2026.

The Chargers also have the likes of Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley and Troy Dye in place at the linebacker spot. That position group will be expected to deliver strong production as the team looks to reach the postseason once more in 2025, and a return to health in Perryman’s case will be a welcomed development.

The Most Lucrative ILB Contract In Each Franchise’s History

The 49ers have again made Fred Warner the NFL’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker. The franchise did this in 2021 as well. A team that has employed All-Pro NaVorro Bowman and Hall of Famer Patrick Willis over the past 15 years, the 49ers have spent on the high end to fortify this position. Other clubs, however, have been far more hesitant to unload significant cash to staff this job.

The $20MM-per-year linebacker club consists of only two players (Warner, Roquan Smith), but only four surpass $15MM per year presently. Last year saw the Jaguars and Jets (Foye Oluokun, C.J. Mosley) trim their priciest ILBs’ salaries in exchange for guarantees, and the Colts did not make it too far with Shaquille Leonard‘s big-ticket extension. Although some contracts handed out this offseason created optimism about this stubborn market, franchises’ pasts here do not depict a trend of paying second-level defenders.

Excluding rookie contracts and arranged by guaranteed money, here is (via OvertheCap) the richest contract each franchise has given to an off-ball ‘backer:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Milano’s first extension (in 2021) brought more in overall value and fully guaranteed money, but the 2023 pact provided more in total guarantees

Carolina Panthers

Shaq Thompson‘s 2019 extension brought a higher AAV ($13.54MM), but Kuechly’s included more in guarantees

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Dre Greenlaw‘s 2025 contract (three years, $31.5MM) brought a higher AAV but a lower guarantee

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Azeez Al-Shaair checks in atop franchise history in AAV ($11.33MM) but fell short of McKinney’s in guarantees

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Rolando McClain‘s 2010 rookie contract, agreed to in the final year before the rookie-scale system debuted, checked in higher in terms of guarantees ($22.83MM)

Los Angeles Chargers

Kenneth Murray‘s rookie contract (a fully guaranteed $12.97MM) narrowly eclipses this deal

Los Angeles Rams

Mark Barron‘s 2016 contract brought a higher AAV ($9MM) but a lower guarantee

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Jerod Mayo; December 17, 2011: Five years, $48.5MM ($27MM guaranteed)

Robert Spillane‘s $11MM AAV leads the way at this position in New England, but the recently dismissed HC’s contract brought more guaranteed money

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Blake Martinez‘s free agency deal included a higher AAV ($10.25MM) but a lower guaranteee

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Warner secured more guaranteed money on this extension than he did on his five-year 2021 deal ($40.5MM guaranteed)

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Jamin Davis‘ fully guaranteed rookie contract brought a higher guarantee ($13.79MM)