Chargers Rumors

RB Gus Edwards Addresses Chargers Deal

April 8th, 2024 at 4:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Gus Edwards was one of several running backs who found a new home early in free agency. The former Ravens producer inked a two-year, $6.5MM deal with the Chargers, giving him the chance to operate as his new team’s lead back.

That agreement also gave the former UDFA the opportunity to reunite with Greg Roman, who is in place as offensive coordinator on Jim Harbaugh‘s staff. Roman was the Ravens’ OC for much of Edwards’ career, during which time he played under Jim’s brother, John. That familiarity, to little surprise, played a role in his free agent decision.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Edwards said during his introductory press conference (video link). “The coaching staff they’ve been putting together is incredible. [I’m] real familiar with coach Roman and his game. And I just wanted to be part of it because I already know what his mindset is. And same with coach Harbaugh, I already know what his mindset is: being a physical team. And I just want to be a part of that.”

Edwards, 28, proved to be extremely consistent during his first four seasons on the field (from 2018-20, along with 2022, having missed the campaign in between due to a torn ACL). The Rutgers product averaged between 5.0 and 5.3 yards per carry in that span, but his efficiency dropped to 4.1 in 2023. In spite of that, Edwards totaled career highs in yards (810) and touchdowns (13) last season.

Coming off that production, he is now positioned to take over from the departed Austin Ekeler atop the Chargers’ RB depth chart. While additions in the backfield could still be made – the Bolts recently hosted J.K. Dobbins and the team will have the opportunity to select a rookie in the upcoming draft – Edwards will face notable expectations with his new team. Having a familiar face on the sideline will help his transition to Los Angeles as the Chargers aim to install a productive run game under Harbaugh.

Vikings, Chargers, Cardinals To Host Dallas Turner

April 8th, 2024 at 2:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

As one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 class, edge rusher Dallas Turner unsurprisingly has a busy schedule in the build-up to the draft. Having already lined up visits with the Falcons and Bears, he is also on the radar of three other interested teams.

Turner is visiting the Vikings today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He adds Turner also has ‘top 30’ trips set up with the Chargers and Cardinals. Those teams own a total of four first-round picks, including three of the first 11 selections.

The Alabama product is widely regarded as the top edge rushing prospect available, something which has frequently led to top-10 connections. The Falcons in particular have become a frequent landing spot in many mock drafts, in large part because of Atlanta’s need to make additions along the edge. That scenario would lead to Turner hearing his name called eighth overall, after the Cardinals and Chargers’ selections but before the Vikings’.

Minnesota – a team which is also hosting DT Byron Murphy today – saw both Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum depart in free agency. While Jonathan Greenard (who signed a four-year, $76MM deal) will fill one starting spot along the edge, the Vikings could use another notable addition during the draft. Of course, the team has instead been most closely connected to a QB selection, something which would likely entail moving up the draft order. If Turner were to make it out of the top 10, though, he could be in the Vikings’ plans.

Arizona and Los Angeles own picks No. 4 and 5, although both are known to be available in a trade for the right price Each team is in the market for a receiver, and the top prospects at that position will be on the board if the first three selections go as expected with quarterbacks hearing their names called. The Cardinals (who have been busy on the ’30 visit’ front recently) have made a number of moves on the defensive line this offseason, but after finishing 30th in sacks last year the team will likely make edge additions a draft priority.

Faced with a significant cap crunch in his first offseason at the helm, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz elected to keep both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa in the fold on restructured contracts. That will give the team a pair of established starters on the edge, a contrast to the receiver position as things currently stand. Especially if Los Angeles elects to move down the board slightly, though, Turner could be in consideration for Hortiz and Co.

The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner posted a career-high 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. Those figures helped earn him All-American acclaim as he took over from Will Anderson as the Crimson Tide’s lead edge rusher. He will face high expectations right away during his rookie season in the NFL, and his first pro team will no doubt be among those spending considerable time evaluating him as part of their draft preparation.

Chargers Interested In WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling?

April 8th, 2024 at 10:28am CST by Adam La Rose

Having released Mike Williams and traded away Keenan Allen, the Chargers have multiple starting spots open at the receiver position. The upcoming draft will provide opportunities (as early as the fifth overall pick) to add a notable prospect, but a free agent addition before then could also be an option.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Chargers have interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling (h/t Alex Insdorf of Chargers Wire). The 29-year-old finds himself on the open market after he was released by the Chiefs in February. That move brought an end to his two-year tenure in Kansas City, but because of the financial benefits it yielded it was not a surprise.

Valdes-Scantling averaged just under 16 yards per catch during his time with the two-time defending champions. He thus remained a deep threat in the team’s receiving corps, and Fowler notes the Chargers are targeting a speed addition at the receiver spot. The former Packer posted a catch percentage of just 51.2% with Kansas City, though, and criticisms related to drops have continued throughout his career.

Still, Valdes-Scantling could offer an experienced complementary option in the short term as Los Angeles transitions to a less expensive WR room. 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston is in position to take on a larger workload this season, but he struggled with inconsistency as a rookie. Josh Palmer is also capable of taking on a starting workload, but he is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.

As a result, many have labeled the Chargers as a team to watch with respect to a first-round receiver addition. Retaining the No. 5 selection would likely allow new general manager Joe Hortiz to choose from at least two of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. Hortiz has publicly stated, though, that he is willing to entertain trade offers for the team’s top pick.

Los Angeles has already been linked to Tyler Boyd, who like Valdes-Scantling finds himself on the market well into free agency. The former may not find a deal until after the draft, by which point his addition would not count toward the compensatory pick formula. That does not apply in the latter’s case since he was released, but he may also need to wait several more weeks to find a new home. Whether or not a deal is struck with the Chargers will remain an interesting storyline to follow.

Latest On Chargers TE Hayden Hurst

April 6th, 2024 at 6:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Hayden Hurst was sidelined for the second half of the season in 2023 due to lingering issues stemming from a concussion. The veteran tight end – now with the Chargers – has recovered, though, and he recently revealed he could have returned to the Panthers’ lineup had the team been fighting for a postseason berth.

Hurst was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia after seeing his one and only Carolina campaign come to an end just nine games into the year. He stated that would not be a season-ending ailment, and his most recent comments on the matter confirm a return to the Panthers could have taken place as the campaign wound down. By that point, though, Carolina was well out of contention for a playoff spot.

“I had the concussion and for a week after it was a little touch-and-go, but I went to the Mayo Clinic down in Jacksonville, got a second opinion, got [a] full clear bill of health,” the 30-year-old said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

“The only reason I sat out as long as I did was just, from the [Panthers’] front office, there was really no point. They were 2-15, or 2-13 at the time, so there was really no point in rushing back.”

At the time that decision was made, Hurst had two years remaining on his contract – a $21.75MM pact signed last offseason. As such, caution in advance of the 2025 campaign would have been reasonable given the team’s situation to close out a campaign in which head coach Frank Reich (and, on Black Monday, general manager Scott Fitterer) were dismissed. However, new general manager Dan Morgan released Hurst at the beginning of March, leaving him on the open market once again.

That set up the former first-rounder’s one-year Chargers agreement, one which will see him re-unite with offensive coordinator Greg Roman (after the pair worked together with the Ravens) and play alongside fellow tight end Will Dissly in Los Angeles’ new-look offense. Putting together a healthy campaign will help Hurst rebound from last year’s concussion while also boosting his 2025 free agent prospects.

Draft Notes: Odunze, DeJean, Nabers, Chargers, Lions, Bucs, Jags, Steelers

April 5th, 2024 at 5:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

While reports have indicated some teams prefer Malik Nabers to Marvin Harrison Jr., Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline offers a stance that could further muddy the waters among the draft’s top wide receivers. Several teams have Rome Odunze slotted higher than Nabers on their big boards. Although transfers have populated the QB ranks in this class, the top three receivers only played at one school. Odunze starred at Washington for the past two seasons, posting two 1,100-yard campaigns and elevating his stock further last year. He clocked a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, a tenth slower than Nabers ran at LSU’s pro day. Odunze, who booked visits with the Cardinals, Bears and Jets, did not run at his pro day.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound talent ripped off 10 100-yard games last season, including five straight to help the Huskies into the CFP national championship game. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board slots Odunze fifth overall — one spot behind Nabers — while Daniel Jeremiah agrees with the teams that have Odunze higher, ranking the Washington prospect third overall — between Harrison and Nabers. All three could be gone in the top seven or eight choices. This certainly raises the stakes for the Cardinals, who have a glaring WR need and have been linked to a trade-down move from No. 4.

Here is the latest coming out of the draft:

In addition to Nabers’ Cardinals visit this week, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes he made a trip to Los Angeles to meet with the new Chargers staff. The Chargers having jettisoned Keenan Allen and Mike Williams makes them an obvious team to monitor for one of the top receivers. If the Cardinals trade out of No. 4, L.A. would be positioned to land the draft’s top WR prospect at 5. Of course, the Chargers have also been linked to moving down. And Jim Harbaugh‘s past and some recent comments have made it worth monitoring if the Bolts value a receiver this high.
After suffering a broken fibula in November, Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean is ready for football work. The highly touted cover man sent a letter to all 32 teams informing them he is cleared for all football actitives, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. DeJean will hold a workout April 8 in Iowa City. Jeremiah ranks the ex-Hawkeyes standout 25th on his big board; Kiper has the 6-1 defender 21st. DeJean, who notched five INTs and three pick-sixes as a sophomore in 2022, left school early despite the injury.
The Jaguars are spending some time on other corners in this draft, specifically those from Alabama. They used “30” visits on both Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Buccaneers and Lions also met with McKinstry, according to Schultz and the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. The Jags cut two-year starter Darious Williams but replaced him with Ronald Darby, though the latter is 30 and tied to a two-year deal that features a fairly easy out in 2025. Cameron Sutton‘s arrest and ensuing release leaves the Lions in need at corner, despite Detroit having signed Amik Robertson and traded for Carlton Davis. The Bucs trading Davis frees up a spot at corner in Tampa opposite Jamel Dean. Arnold rates higher than McKinstry, who came into last season as a better prospect. Jeremiah ranks McKinstry 36th overall. More visits are likely, considering McKinstry sat out the Combine with a toe fracture but still clocked a 4.47-second 40 time (at Alabama’s pro day) despite not yet undergoing surgery.
Nate Wiggins clocked a blazing 4.28 time at the Combine, elevating his stock. The Clemson product visited the Steelers on Thursday, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Chris Adamski. A first-team All-ACC choice who posted two pick-sixes with the ACC program, Wiggins played all three of his college seasons at Clemson. The Steelers releasing Patrick Peterson but added Donte Jackson. The trade pickup’s contract expires after 2024, however, and the 6-foot-1 Wiggins is among those the team is looking into as a longer-term option opposite Joey Porter Jr.

Chargers Re-Sign K Cameron Dicker

April 2nd, 2024 at 6:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers have officially retained Cameron Dicker for the 2024 campaign. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Chargers have signed the ERFA kicker.

Dicker was hit with the exclusive rights free agent tender earlier this offseason. This was always the likeliest path, as the kicker effectively had no path to joining another squad.

The former UDFA out of Texas had brief stints with the Rams, Ravens, and Eagles before catching on with the Chargers during the 2022 campaign. He ended up supplanting Dustin Hopkins as the team’s kicker, and he was all but perfect in his 11 games, converting 19-of-20 field goal attempts and all 22 of his extra point tries. He also got into one playoff game, adding 12 points.

Dicker stuck around as the Chargers kicker in 2023 and continued his remarkable efficiency. The 23-year-old finished the season converting 31 of his 33 field goal attempts and all 35 of his XPs.

The Chargers weren’t done making moves today, as the team also added fullback Ben Mason (per ESPN’s Field Yates). The former fifth-round pick spent the majority of his career in Baltimore, although he’s been limited to only a single appearance in three years.

Chargers, Dolphins, Lions, 49ers In On WR Tyler Boyd?

April 2nd, 2024 at 1:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyler Boyd has been connected to a host of teams this offseason. The veteran remains one of the market’s top wide receivers, but the longtime Bengals slot presence clearly has not seen his market reach an acceptable price point.

Tied to the Chiefs, Jets and his hometown Steelers thus far, Boyd may have some other options. The Chargers, Dolphins, Lions and 49ers each showed some preliminary interest in the eight-year veteran, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly notes (subscription required). A few of these teams still have need at the position.

The Lions had hoped to retain Josh Reynolds, but with the team expecting Jameson Williams to grow into a No. 2 wideout role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, a lower-end offer emerged. Reynolds then decided to sign with the Broncos, leaving the Lions with an ancillary need at wide receiver. Considering what Reynolds ended up signing for in Denver (two years, $9MM), his Lions offer does not seem to indicate the team is comfortable spending much on a receiver — especially during an offseason in which St. Brown could sign a top-tier extension.

Odell Beckham Jr. has already negotiated terms with the Dolphins, who have submitted an offer. But the former Giants superstar remains unsigned. The Dolphins are believed to be looking for a WR3 as well, though they probably have Lions-like plans here due to Tyreek Hill‘s market-setting contract. The team could still keep Jaylen Waddle on a low-end salary for 2024 — with his soon-to-be-exercised fifth-year option tying him to Miami through 2025 — while dropping Tua Tagovailoa‘s 2024 cap number ($23.2MM) by a bit via an extension. That would open a salary slot for a one-year WR rental.

The 49ers devoting much in the way of funds to another wide receiver would be highly unlikely, considering Deebo Samuel‘s salary and Brandon Aiyuk‘s fifth-year option residing on their cap sheet. The Chargers, however, would make more sense because of the team’s cost-cutting decisions — cutting Mike Williams (now a Jet) and trading Keenan Allen to the Bears — last month. The Bolts have been connected to a wideout at No. 5 overall, but the team is open for business with that pick as the Jim Harbaugh era begins.

Circling back to the Boyd-Steelers path, a return home for the Pittsburgh alum now may be on the unlikely side. Boyd, 29, showed significant interest in returning home early in free agency; the Steelers were also onboard with a signing. Despite the Steelers having a need after trading Diontae Johnson, Kaboly adds the ship has likely sailed here. Boyd was not pleased with the offer the Steelers made. The team, which has been known to identify quality receiving talent in the draft, set a firm price point here recently.

With Reynolds off the market, Beckham, Boyd, Hunter Renfrow, Michael Thomas and Marquez Valdes-Scantling represent the top players still available at this high-profile position. It appears Boyd will have a chance to land somewhere soon, but it might be at a rate lower than he expected. Boyd played out a four-year, $43MM extension with the Bengals last season.

Draft Notes: Barton, ’30’ Visits, Wilson

April 1st, 2024 at 12:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2024 tackle class has drawn rave reviews in the lead-in to this month’s draft, but Graham Barton is among those expected to play on the inside upon entering the NFL. The Duke product has nevertheless helped his draft stock recently.

Barton was already gaining steam as a rising prospect before his Pro Day, as noted by ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He battled injuries during the 2023 season and was forced to miss the Senior Bowl as a result, but the two-time All-American managed to take part in the Blue Devils’ Pro Day last week. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports Barton’s performance was highly impressive, and it secured his status as a Day 1 prospect.

Following up on the strong workout, Reid notes Barton could now work his way into the top 15 come draft night. Many NFL teams view the first-team All-ACC selection as a center, but he could also see time at guard at the pro level. Wherever he lines up as a rookie, Barton will face high expectations and no doubt draw the attention of many teams near the top of the order in need of reinforcements up front.

Here are some other draft-related notes from around the NFL:

Missouri’s Darius Robinson has also seen his stock rise in the wake of the Senior Bowl, and NFL teams are keeping an eye on him. The Steelers recently hosted him on a ’30’ visit, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He adds Robinson has 20 meetings with teams on the books, making him one of several potential first-rounders who will remain busy as the draft approaches. O-lineman Taliese Fuaga is among the prospects who also met with the Steelers, as noted by Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Staying in Pennsylvania, the Eagles hosted Laiatu Latu on a ’30’ visit, Geoff Mosher of Inside the Birds reports. The UCLA product is one of the best edge rushers in the 2024 class, having earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. His college resume includes a medical retirement, however, so there will be risk involved in selecting him. Philadelphia and all other prospective suitors will no doubt have a vested interest in Latu’s medical examinations. The Eagles traded Haason Reddick to the Jets, creating the need for a new investment along the edge.
The inside linebacker class is not believed to have a Day 1 prospect, but Edgerrin Cooper is among the top options teams will have to choose from. The Texas A&M product had a strong Pro Day showing, and he has a number of ’30’ visits lined up. Per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the list of interested teams includes the Texans, Eagles, Cowboys, Panthers, Chargers and Buccaneers. Cooper was a consensus All-American in 2023 after racking up 84 tackles (including 17 for loss), eight sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh, Dallas, Carolina and Tampa Bay are among the teams also set to host Western Kentucky wideout Malachi Corley, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes. Garafolo adds the Browns, Ravens, Seahawks and 49ers have also booked a visit with the small school standout. Corley is a member of a very deep receiver class, but his 180 catches, 2,279 yards and 22 touchdowns over the past two seasons along with a strong pre-draft process has put him firmly on the draft radar.
Marshawn Kneeland has also drawn considerable pre-draft attention. The Western Michigan defensive end has either already met with (or plans to visit) the Eagles along with the Chiefs, Saints, Jaguars, Jets, Vikings, Colts and Commanders, per Pauline. Kneeland spent four years with the MAC program, totaling 12.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss while establishing himself as a power rusher and strong run defender.
While a number of prospects have helped their stock recently, the opposite is of course true of others. Michigan receiver Roman Wilson appears to have fallen into the latter category, per ESPN’s Matt Miller. He notes Wilson is in danger of falling to the late second round or early in the third, something which could become increasingly possible if a run on the draft’s other pass-catchers takes place. Wilson averaged 16.4 yards per catch and scored 12 touchdowns on a run-heavy Wolverines offense last season, but his size (6-0, 180) and mediocre statistics from his three other campaigns could make him less appealing than other WR options.

Chargers Host RB J.K. Dobbins

March 27th, 2024 at 5:39pm CST by Ben Levine

After adding former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers were quick to sign Gus Edwards. Now, the Chargers are eyeing another former Ravens running back in J.K. Dobbins, with Howard Balzer reporting that the free agent visited the organization today.

After letting Austin Ekeler walk as a free agent, the Chargers didn’t waste time adding Edwards to their RBs room. The veteran is the most accomplished player on the positional depth chart, a grouping that also includes Isaiah Spiller, Elijah Dotson, and Jaret Patterson. Considering the overall lack of experience, it’s not a surprise that the Ravens are targeting more reinforcement at the position, and they’re continuing their trend of eyeing contributors from Roman’s former offense.

Dobbins was a second-round pick by the Ravens back in 2020 and contributed immediately. Despite splitting carries with Edwards, Dobbins finished his rookie campaign with 925 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. An ACL tear and a subsequent knee injury wiped out his entire 2021 season and half of his 2022 campaign. He averaged an efficient 5.7 yards per carry following his return, not a huge drop from his six yards per carry in 2020.

The 25-year-old was eyeing the most significant role of his career in 2023. However, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1, ending his season after only 10 touches. It’s been relatively quiet on the Dobbins front since he hit free agency. The Ravens seemed to shut the door on a potential reunion by adding Derrick Henry to a room that already included Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill.

Dobbins’ injury history certainly makes him a question mark in free agency, and he’ll likely have to settle for a prove-it, one-year pact to show he’s back to full strength. For a Chargers RB corps that lacks top-end talent, that wouldn’t be a bad gamble for the organization.

Bills Sign DT Austin Johnson

March 23rd, 2024 at 1:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bills have been forced to address their defensive line during these early weeks of free agency. After Ed Oliver, the team saw the next four top snap-getters on the interior hit free agency. After a couple of departures, they’ll add some depth and starting experience in the form of former Chargers defensive tackle Austin Johnson, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Fowler also tells us that Johnson’s one-year deal will be for $3.5MM and worth up to $4MM.

Johnson is an eight-year veteran who has seen time with the Titans and Giants before his most recent stint with the Chargers. After Tennessee drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Johnson spent his first few years rotating in for starters like Al Woods and Sylvester Williams. In his third season, Johnson started to earn more starting time with Jurrell Casey and DaQuan Jones, one of the Buffalo free agents this offseason who re-signed with the team on the second day of free agency.

When Johnson signed with New York, he regressed back into reserve duty, rotating in for Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams. When Tomlinson left for Minnesota, Johnson took over full-time starting duties for the first time in his career. He would leverage that starting experience into a two-year, $14MM contract with the Chargers, though his first season in Los Angeles would see him spend the final nine games of the season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Johnson returned in 2023, remaining a full-time starter, but delivered what Pro Football Focus (subscription required) would call his worst season in the NFL, grading out as the league’s 118th-ranked interior defender out of 130 graded players. While he’s never been elite per PFF’s analytics, Johnson’s 2023 campaign was his worst by a long shot in their eyes. The Bills will hope to get some better production out of him as they reunite him on the line with Jones, perhaps with the intention to put him back in rotation.

Buffalo still has work to do to fill out their defensive line. They’ll return Oliver and Jones, and they signed Eli Ankou to a reserve/futures deal. Meanwhile, Tim Settle departed for Houston in free agency and Poona Ford is swapping places with Johnson, joining the defensive line for the Chargers. Last year’s veteran tackles Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph both remain free agents for now. The Bills may opt to return one or both of them in order to fill out the line with a bit more depth, though late-round rookies may be cheaper.

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