Paxton Lynch's Visit With Chargers Set
- The Chargers, who are set to pick third in the draft, are showing strong interest in Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was among the team’s representatives at Lynch’s pro day earlier this week, and the 6-foot-7 passer will visit the Bolts on Saturday, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter).
Chargers Interested In Joe Dahl, Jatavis Brown
- Washington State offensive lineman Joe Dahl, a possible second-day pick, has a heavy workout/visit schedule forthcoming, Pauline writes. The Jets, Patriots, Buccaneers, Eagles, 49ers, Chargers, Panthers, Ravens, Vikings and Colts are all interested in Dahl.
- Akron linebacker Jatavis Brown didn’t get an invitation to February’s combine, but he’s drawing plenty of pre-draft interest. Brown has visited with 10 teams, including the Steelers (previously reported), Rams and Chargers, per Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Chiefs are also among those clubs, as Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reported earlier this week.
[SOURCE LINK]
Chargers Set Up Paxton Lynch Meeting
- Paxton Lynch has a Cowboys visit lined up for Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, and will trek to San Diego for a Chargers meeting soon after. The 49ers also sent multiple representatives to observe the Memphis prospect at his pro day Wednesday, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Chargers Sign Jeff Cumberland
7:04pm: The Chargers formally announced the deal.
6:10pm: The Chargers are expected to sign tight end Jeff Cumberland, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Cumberland also drew interest from the Patriots before signing with San Diego. 
Cumberland, 29 in May, was released by the Jets prior to the start of free agency in an effort to free up cap space. As a vested veteran, Cumberland immediately became a free agent upon his release and did not have to go through waivers. The tight end caught a total of 78 passes for the Jets from 2012 to 2014, starting 38 games for the team during that stretch and racking up 10 touchdowns. However, he saw his number called a whole lot less in 2015, as Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t use his tight ends much. Cumberland had just five receptions on 14 targets in 2015.
Now, Cumberland will likely serve as a run-blocking complement to star tight end Antonio Gates. The Chargers currently have five tight ends under contract with Gates, Cumberland, Sean McGrath, Tim Semisch, and Asante Cleveland.
In other Chargers news, the Bolts and the city of San Diego are reportedly butting heads over where the team’s new stadium should be situated.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Disconnect Growing Between Chargers, City
- A significant disagreement on where the Chargers should play long-term in San Diego has emerged between the team and the city after the team’s proposal for a 4% hotel tax hike surfaced earlier this week. City politicians and hotel owners are vehemently against the tax that would help the city contribute the $350MM in public money necessary toward constructing a long-term Chargers stadium, and as a byproduct are against the notion of a downtown Chargers site, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). This contingent still contends the Chargers should play in Mission Valley, where Qualcomm Stadium is located. The Chargers are against this from a revenue standpoint, because in their view a downtown stadium will increase the franchise’s value.
Chargers Interested In Ufomba Kamalu
- Miami defensive lineman Ufomba Kamalu has picked up interest from the Chargers, Panthers, Eagles, Cardinals, and Broncos, according to Mike Kaye of First Coast News (via Twitter).
Chargers Rumors: Stadium, Draft, Buckner
The Chargers’ plan for a new stadium in San Diego calls for the team (and the NFL) to pay $650MM while a 4% hike in the local hotel tax would provide an additional $350MM, Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego writes. In total, that would add up to the $1 billion needed to construct a new stadium. All in all, the plan is asking less of the city than most stadium proposals do, but it remains to be seen whether San Diego will greenlight the pitch.
Here’s more on the Chargers’ stadium situation as well as draft news:
- It’s not immediately clear what percentage of the electorate would be required for passage, Dan McSwain and Lori Weisberg of U-T San Diego write. Recently, a California appellate court ruled that a motion to tax marijuana dispensaries needed only a simple majority (50% plus one vote) to pass, but the old rules require two-thirds of a vote. “We’re operating as if it’s two-thirds,” Fred Maas, a development consultant to the Chargers, said Tuesday.
- The Chargers released a comprehensive FAQ regarding the Citizens’ Initiative. Within the FAQ, the Chargers acknowledge that there will still be logistical hurdles to deal with if the initiative passes.
- Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner visited the Chargers on Wednesday, per Rand Getlin of NFL Network (on Twitter). Buckner is regarded as one of the top prospects in the draft and could be in the mix for San Diego at No. 3.
- The Chargers worked out former Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Fajardo spent training camp with Oakland in 2015 as a UDFA.
- UCLA product Myles Jack expects to play safety if he’s drafted by the Chargers, as Gehlken writes. “They feel like I can fill that spot Eric Weddle was at,” Jack said.
Chargers Look At Pitt WR Tyler Boyd
- Pitt wide receiver Tyler Boyd confirmed that he has had workouts with the Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, and Rams (Twitter link via SiriusXM). He’ll also have formal visits with the Panthers and Cowboys next week.
Chargers To Sign QB Bryn Renner
- The Chargers are signing former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner after working him out along with some other signal-callers today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Renner has spent time with Denver, Baltimore, and Tennessee, though his stints with those clubs came primarily during training camp or as a practice-squad player.
Cardinals Watch Laquon Treadwell At Pro Day
- Of course, Treadwell drew quite a crowd with wide receiver coaches from the Chargers and Cardinals on hand to see him along with Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and top officials from the Rams, Pauline writes.
[SOURCE LINK]