The LA Chargers are knocking on the pane of a Super Bowl window and can cement themselves as a true contender with a strong showing in free agency. With ample cap space to spend and a strong foundation already built, the sky really is the limit for the Chargers.
Los Angeles entered the 2025 offseason in a similar situation and stayed disciplined. With no home-run targets on the market, the Chargers only struck deals that allowed the team to be financially flexible in the future. Now, the Chargers can benefit from the fruits of their own labor.
It's sure to be busy for a team with loads of cap space and Super Bowl aspirations. Consider this your one-stop shop for everything related to the Chargers in free agency.
On this page:
- Free-agency snapshot
- Major Chargers signings
- Potential departures to watch
- Best targets remaining
- More free-agency coverage
Free-agency snapshot
- Cap space remaining: $85,454,941
- Biggest signing: Teair Tart
- Biggest departure: TBD
- Most surprising move: TBD
- Biggest remaining need: Center
- Last updated: 4:00 p.m. PT, March 1, 2026
Center has cemented itself as the biggest need for the Chargers ahead of free agency following Bradley Bozeman's retirement. The Chargers needed to upgrade the center position already, but Bozeman's retirement only guarantees that the front office will prioritize the position.
Between the ample cap space to spend and the ways to generate even more cap space, the Chargers are sure to be busy in the coming days and weeks.
Major Chargers signings
Teair Tart; 3 years, $30 million
The Chargers wasted no time re-signing Teair Tart, doing so over a month before free agency starts in March. Tart has emerged as one of the most impactful players on the Chargers' defensive line and the team awarded him with a generous multi-year deal.
Per ESPN's Kris Rhim, Tart's new deal carries a $6.02 million cap hit in 2026 and has $20 million guaranteed. He can earn up to $37.5 million with incentives over the course of the deal. If things go sideways, the Chargers can get out of the contract with just a $2 million cap hit in 2028.
Potential departures to watch
Khalil Mack, EDGE, UFA
Khalil Mack is an unrestricted free agent for the second offseason in a row after signing a one-year deal with the Chargers last March. There isn't as much retirement buzz this time around, but unlike last year, there are more opportunities for him to sign elsewhere.
Mack has made it very clear that his No. 1 priority at this stage in his career is to win a Super Bowl. If there is another team that he believes has a better chance, that is also willing to pay, he very well could leave the Chargers after four seasons with the team.
Odafe Oweh, EDGE, UFA
The Chargers have not one, but two impact edge rushers hitting free agency this offseason. The hope is that the Bolts re-sign at least one of Oweh or Mack, but there could be a world in which the Bolts lose both.
Oweh went from someone who was traded at the deadline in a cheap deal to being one of the biggest players in free agency this year. The 2021 first-round pick had an excellent showing with the Chargers, earning himself a much bigger pay day in the process.
The Chargers have the means to match the price for Oweh in free agency this offseason. The question is whether or not GM Joe Hortiz wants to get in a bidding war.
Zion Johnson, G, UFA
Zion Johnson is an unrestricted free agent after the Chargers declined his fifth-year option last offseason. At the time, that was a no-brainer decision for the Bolts as Johnson struggled in his first three years with the team.
Johnson took a step in the right direction in 2025 and might be a fundamental piece of rebuilding this offensive line if the Chargers can re-sign him for the right price. He still has his areas of weakness, but if Johnson is the worst member of the offensive line, the Chargers are in a good spot.
But it shouldn't come at a premium price. If one team wants to drive up the price for Johnson this offseason then the Chargers may need to look elsewhere.
Keenan Allen, WR, UFA
Keenan Allen is once again an unrestricted free agent, although the perception around him this offseason is that he will be back in LA in 2026. Last year there was a massive "will they, won't they?" about whether or not the Chargers would actually bring back the player they traded for a fourth-round pick the year prior.
Allen has once again made it clear that he wants to play in Los Angeles and the Chargers have proven that he can succeed alongside Ladd McConkey, even in a reduced role. It would be a real shock at this point if Allen leaves the Chargers, but it's still worth mentioning given his gravitas.
Benjamin St-Juste, CB, UFA
Benjamin St-Juste went from being a flier signing last offseason to one of the most impactful cornerbacks in the Chargers' secondary. Much like he did the year prior with Kristian Fulton, now-former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter worked his magic and put St-Juste in a position to play the best ball of his career.
It will be interesting to see if the Chargers approach St-Juste's upcoming free agency in the same way as Fulton's. Fulton signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Chiefs last offseason that wound up being an awful deal.
Will the same happen with St-Juste after a breakout year in Los Angeles? Time will tell.
Mekhi Becton, G, cut candidate
Mekhi Becton was not as advertised for the Chargers in 2025. The Chargers thought they were getting a stout run blocker who could hold his own in pass pro and improve the offensive line as a result. What the team really got was one of the worst guards in the sport last season.
Thankfully, the Chargers built Becton's contract in such a way that they can get out of it after one year without a massive salary-cap hit. Cutting Becton would create $9.7 million in cap space with a dead cap hit of less than $3 million.
Cutting Becton and using that money to sign a better lineman, even if it's still just a serviceable replacement, seems like a no-brainer for the Bolts.
Best targets remaining
Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens
Outside of the internal free agents that need to be re-signed, Tyler Linderbaum is by far the biggest name Chargers fans are watching this offseason. Linderbaum will likely reset the center market this offseason and could do so with a team that desperately needs an above-average starting center.
It originally appeared that the Ravens were not going to offer Linderbaum a market-resetting deal, giving the Chargers an avenue to do so. However, that story has since changed, leaving fans of both teams puzzled on what will ultimately happen.
Isaac Seumalo, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
Whether the Chargers need to replace Johnson, Becton, or both, Isaac Seumalo is an intriguing name to keep an eye on. Seumalo has consistently turned in above-average play at the guard position, particularly in pass protection. He may not be All-Pro caliber, but he would be a reliable floor-raiser on an offensive line that already has elite tackles.
Seumalo is an intriguing candidate on a short-term deal that allows the Chargers to remain financially flexible in future years. At 32 years old, it's unlikely that Seumalo will get anything more than a two-year deal from any team in free agency.
David Edwards, G, Buffalo Bills
All the reasons for pursuing Seumalo exist with David Edwards, who arguably has an even higher ceiling than his fellow guard. The higher ceiling would come with a higher price tag, though, which may make his addition less likely.
Edwards is 28 years old coming off arguably the best season of his career with the Bills. Buffalo will prioritize Josh Allen's protection, potentially creating a price tag the Chargers don't want to match. If the price stays manageable, though, he would be a strong addition to the team.
Connor McGovern, C, Buffalo Bills
Speaking of Bills offensive linemen, Connor McGovern is the second-best center on the free-agent market and might be the Chargers' No. 1 target if the Ravens are keeping Linderbaum in town with a market-resetting deal.
McGovern will almost certainly wait until Linderbaum signs to sign a deal of his own as it will give him a barometer for what his contract should look like. He ultimately won't get as much as Linderbaum, but don't be surprised if the numbers are closer than expected.
McGovern doesn't have as high of a ceiling as he is not an elite run-blocker like Linderbaum is. However, you could easily make the case that he's a better pass-blocker, which is what the Chargers are primarily interested in anyway.
Kevin Zeitler, G, Tennessee Titans
The stars aligned for the Chargers to sign former Ravens offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler this past offseason. However, Zeitler prioritized a personal move to Tennessee, leaving the Chargers to sign Becton and run it back with Johnson.
After a terrible season in Tennessee that might not be any better, Zeitler could re-asses his decisions and move to the West Coast to play for Jim Harbaugh. After all, Zeitler is nearing the end of his NFL career and is still chasing a Super Bowl trophy.
Zeitler is by no means a long-term fix. He would be a cheaper, one-year bandage if the Chargers miss out on bigger names. But he's still a target nonetheless.