Today’s Hottest Take: Fans' Frustrations Are Valid

I like to consider myself a rational fan; I don’t like being reactionary (most of the time), and I understand that this isn’t Madden when it comes to roster building. With all of that said, I have reached a point of frustration that has me looking at my phone and internally screaming, “Damnit, just do something!” Once again, just like the 2025 offseason, the Chargers have screaming needs, and they have the assets to remedy those needs.

Once again, just like the 2025 offseason, the Chargers have scoured the bargain bin and missed out on almost the entirety of the first wave of free agents. It started strong when they struck before Monday with the acquisition of Tyler Biadasz to anchor the center position, a huge upgrade from their previous starter at that position. As well as signing fullback Alec Ingold, familiar with new OC Mike McDaniel, and one of the engines behind his potent run game. Two moves that Chargers’ fans applauded, under the impression that they were precursors to an eventful Monday Afternoon,

Then Monday came, and Monday went, and the Chargers' only two pickups were Charlie Kolar and Cole Strange, while Kolar is a welcome addition as a blocking tight end with plenty of untapped potential due to his athletic profile, he was not exactly the main event Bolts fans were looking for.

They did not retain Zion Johnson or Odafe Oweh, they did not make a play for Alijah Vera-Tucker, David Edwards, or Isaac Seumalo, they fell short on Alec Pierce and Rashid Shaheed, and watched on as it felt like every team with a glaring need addressed said need while Joe Hortiz was playing with his compensatory pick calculator.

In the epitome of a make-or-break off-season, the Chargers' solution to their offensive line problem (at the time of this being written) was Cole Strange, a reclamation project that started for Mike McDaniel’s offensive line in Miami with little success, and Trevor Penning and Trey Pipkins, two members of the historically inept 2025 Offensive Line. I would love to tell you with a straight face that these are simply depth pick-ups, and the Chargers' two starting guards are still out there in the form of Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, or Kevin Zeitler, but until I see it, Joe Hortiz has not given Charger fans any reason to believe it.

What You Need to Know: The Biggest Miss

The biggest miss in this entire mess was missing out on Elgton Jenkins, the former Packers star with experience at all 3 interior OL positions, but a much more effective guard than center.

After some injury troubles and a drop-off in production at the center position relative to his Pro Bowl-caliber play at guard, the Packers moved on. They waived Jenkins, so whichever team called upon his services next would not have to count him against Joe Hortiz's beloved comp pick formula. Basically, this is all leading me to the discussion that there was not a better fit in free agency for one of the vacant Chargers guard spots than Elgton Jenkins… so naturally, he signed a 2 year 24 million dollar contract with the Cleveland Browns, a deal that the Chargers should have been jumping all over and very well could have beaten.

This only added to the frustration among all Charger fans, as the possibility of Jenkins being in powder blue next year was one of the few things that felt like an exciting prospect after an extremely disappointing Monday. A frustration was further compounded by the fact that money that could have been given to Jenkins was not being allocated towards players who you are actively hoping never have to take the field to protect Justin Herbert.

Before You Go: Now What?

Listen, the season is not doomed because the Chargers slept through the first 3 days of free agency, there’s an NFL draft, and there's still plenty of talent in the free agent pool. Despite my obvious dislike for Horitz’s handling of his free agencies, he has proven to find some diamonds in the rough in free agency over the years. Guys such as Donte Jackson last year, Teair Tart, and Poona Ford in his first go, among plenty of others.

So it will come down to Hortiz finding those guys yet again and building this roster with them. Guys like Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio come to mind regarding the holes still present up front, but the Chargers have also been linked to Jauan Jennings, or eventually working out a contract with vet Tony Jefferson, among many other smaller moves that, when all put together, can move the needle. Frankly, due to Hortiz's stingy spending habits, he has to nail these phase 2 signings for the Bolts to make the leap they claim to envision.