When the offseason opened, it felt as though almost anything could be on the table for the Los Angeles Chargers. By the time the legal tampering period began, they had the most cap space in the NFL. They also had a number of needs across their roster.
It was reasonable to think that a blockbuster move, or at least an exciting one, would be coming at some point. Unfortunately, Joe Hortiz's cautious nature would not allow for it.
The Chargers started by dipping out of the Tyler Linderbaum market by adding Tyler Biadasz, who came with the added benefit of not factoring into the compensatory pick formula. They then opted to re-sign Khalil Mack before letting both Zion Johnson and Odafe Oweh walk in free agency.
As it stands, their starting offensive line includes both Trevor Penning and Cole Strange. There must be more moves coming.
But fans shouldn't hold their breath for any blockbuster move, let alone a trade for a superstar wide receiver like A.J. Brown.
Chargers are going to take an ultra-cautious approach again this offseason
There are obviously arguments to be made against even having interest in Brown in the first place, most of which center around his enormous cap hit and the clear issues he brings from a chemistry standpoint. But if you toss that to the side, Brown would be an absolutely tantalizing target for the Chargers.
Los Angeles lacks a dominant X-receiver, and Brown is exactly that. Despite his complaints about his role in Philadelphia's offense in 2025, he still managed to amassed 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 receptions.
Per Diana Russini of The Athletic, the Chargers registered interest in Brown as recently as last week, although the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams are still widely considered to be the primary suitors. Since that time, Russini has also revealed that the Eagles are holding firm for now on Brown's asking price, and any trade is likely to take place closer to June 1.
The Charger, however, are realistically out of the mix at this point. Hortiz has consistently shown throughout his Los Angeles tenure that he's unwilling to take these sort of gambles even with ample financial flexibility. It simply goes against the grain of how he wants to run the organization, for better or for worse..
At this point, Chargers fans can maybe expect a Wyatt Teller signing. That's about the most exciting thing the offseason could still have in store. It's a disappointing realization to come to with considering the hopeful tone with which the offseason began.