- Chargers linebacker Korey Toomer has signed his restricted free agent tender, the club announced today. Toomer, 28, was assigned the original round tender, which means he’ll earn $1.797MM for the upcoming season. He’s the second RFA to ink his tender, joining Eagles tight end Trey Burton. Last year, Toomer appeared in 13 games and made eight starts, 71 tackles and one sack in the process.
While the Chargers could conceivably use another interior offensive lineman, the club is expected to eschew free agent veterans such as Nick Mangold in favor of younger players such as Max Tuerk and Spencer Pulley, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes. Tuerk, a 2016 third-round pick, didn’t see a single snap during his rookie campaign as he recovered from ACL surgery, but he could earn a starting role in 2017. Incumbent center Matt Slauson also has experience at guard, meaning Los Angeles has the option of deploying its interior lineman — a group that also includes veteran Chris Hairston — in numerous ways.
- The Chargers, Saints, and Panthers have all worked out Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, tweets Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Los Angeles and New Orleans, specifically, are both hunting for long-term signal-callers as their respective quarterbacks age, and Dobbs — a likely mid-round pick — could be an option for both clubs. A two-year starter for the Volunteers, Dobbs passed for nearly 3,000 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. Todd McShay of ESPN.com ranks Dobbs as the sixth-best quarterback prospect in 2017.
LaDainian Tomlinson has joined the Chargers as a “Special Assistant to the owner of the team,” according to a press release. It sounds like Tomlinson will not have a part in front office decisions as his job will focus more on fan relations. His presence could help smooth over tensions with San Diegans who are feeling scorned by the team’s relocation to Los Angeles.
“L.T. is one of the most beloved and iconic Chargers of all time,” said Chairman Dean Spanos in the statement. “His active involvement in our fight for Los Angeles is vital, and he represents the very best of what it means to be a Charger on the field and in the community.”
Given that starting quarterback Philip Rivers is 35 years old, and his backup, Kellen Clemens, is 33, the Chargers may start thinking about a successor as soon as the upcoming draft. Speaking at the league meetings earlier today, new Los Angeles head coach Anthony Lynn sounded very amenable to selecting a signal-caller next month, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com details.
“I think we do have to get a young quarterback on campus and start to develop someone, because we have two veteran quarterbacks and both of them are long in the tooth,” Lynn said. “I think they have some good years left in them, don’t get me wrong, but you have to start thinking about down the line, too.
“I would love for a young quarterback to get in here and learn from Philip. Philip is the ultimate pro in my opinion, so it would be a good situation for a young quarteFrback that doesn’t have to come in and play right now, but can sit, watch and learn.”
Although the Chargers have only drafted three quarterbacks — Charlie Whitehurst, Jonathan Crompton, and Brad Sorensen — since Rivers entered the league, the club is scouting prospects for 2017. Los Angeles has worked out both Texas Tech‘s Patrick Mahomes and Notre Dame‘s DeShone Kizer, and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt attended the Pro Day for Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman. Additionally, Los Angeles is thought to have interest in Davis Webb (Cal).
- Most NFL teams believe Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp will be selected in the 20s, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Lamp will likely play guard in the NFL after playing tackle in college, but he offers versatility that intrigues clubs, as he could slide to the blindside or even to center if needed. Following his Pro Day, Lamp had dinner with the Chargers‘ staff, writes Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who reported last week that a number of clubs are interested in Lamp.
The Chargers have been connected to a number of quarterback prospects, including DeShone Kizer, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Dobbs. Current signal-caller, veteran Philip Rivers, understands why his team would start looking for an heir apparent. However, the 35-year-old was also adamant that he’s not looking to give up his role anytime soon.
- Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is working out with the Chargers on Friday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Kizer already worked for the Jets and Browns, Rapoport adds. “(Kizer) makes some throws that Trubisky and Watson cannot make,” ESPN.com’s Todd McShay said during the Notre Dame passer’s pro day (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). “But Kizer also misses a lot of throws that typically you wouldn’t see from (Mitchell) Trubisky or (Deshaun) Watson. I think probably he has the strongest arm. He has the biggest upside of all of these quarterbacks.” Potentially ready to tab a successor to Philip Rivers, the Bolts have been linked to Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes as well.
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who could go anywhere from the top of the first round to the second round in this year’s draft, is drawing interest from three teams with aging franchise signal-callers. A Chargers contingent consisting of head coach Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen put Mahomes through a private workout in Lubbock, Texas, last week, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The Bolts have a starting passer in Philip Rivers, but he’ll be 36 in December, so they’ll at least consider taking a QB early. The club is set to pick seventh and 38th in the first two rounds.
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who could go anywhere from the top of the first round to the second round in this year’s draft, is drawing interest from three teams with aging franchise signal-callers. A Chargers contingent consisting of head coach Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen put Mahomes through a private workout in Lubbock, Texas, last week, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The Bolts have a starting passer in Philip Rivers, but he’ll be 36 in December, so they’ll at least consider taking a QB early. The club is set to pick seventh and 38th in the first two rounds.
New Orleans, meanwhile, has a 38-year-old under center in Drew Brees, meaning there’s more urgency for the club to find its next passer than there is for the Chargers. With that in mind, Saints head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and members of the team’s front office traveled to Lubbock to work out Mahomes on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. “They said every time they see me under center, I look better and better,” Mahomes said of the Saints, who currently own three of the draft’s first 45 selections (Nos. 11, 32 and 42).
The Chargers have agreed to re-sign running back Branden Oliver to a one-year deal, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Exact terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s quite possible that he has no guaranteed cash, so his roster spot is not a certainty. 
Oliver was non-tendered by the Bolts earlier this month, allowing him to explore free agency unencumbered. We did not hear any rumblings of free agent visits or outside interest, so it’s possible that Oliver didn’t find much of a market for his services. He’ll now return to the Bolts, presumably at a lower price than the one-year, $1.797MM original round tender.
Oliver became a focal part of the Chargers’ rushing game in 2014 amidst injuries in the backfield. In 2015, an injury of his own landed him on IR midway through the season. Then, last summer, he suffered an Achilles tear in August and never returned to action. Oliver has not seen the field since November 1, 2015.
The Chargers added running back Kenjon Barner to the fold this week and they now have five RBs in total.