Chargers Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more

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.

Free-agency snapshot

Cap space remaining: $49.26 million (estimated)
Biggest signing: Tyler Biadasz
Biggest departure: Odafe Oweh
Most surprising move: Signing Alec Ingold
Biggest remaining need: Guard
Last updated: 7:32 a.m. PT, March 20, 2026

Center was the biggest roster need following Bradley Bozeman's retirement and the Chargers wasted no time filling the need, signing Tyler Biadasz before the start of free agency. With Khalil Mack also re-signed, the biggest focus for the Chargers turns to the guard 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 (Per Kris Rhim, ESPN)

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.

Read the full breakdown on how the Chargers righted a wrong with Teair Tart here

Tyler Biadasz: 3 years, $30 million (Per Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)

The Chargers wasted absolutely no time filling the need at center, signing the recently released Tyler Biadasz to a three-year deal. While Biadasz is not an elite center by any means, he is a floor raiser who is a monumental upgrade from what the Bolts already had.

While fans may have expected something bigger at center, Biadasz represented the perfect opportunity for the Chargers to address the position early. Connor McGovern didn't even hit free agency as he re-signed a multi-year deal with the Buffalo Bills and Tyler Linderbaum will likely reset the center market. By signing Biadasz so quickly, the Chargers took out the stress.

Read why the Tyler Biadasz signing is even smarter than it first seemed here

Khalil Mack: 1 year, $18 million (per the Chargers)

The Chargers announced Saturday that the team re-signed Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18 million contract. It's the second year in a row the Chargers re-signed Mack to a one-year deal.

There's a lingering question remaining at edge rusher in Odafe Oweh, who will likely command an even higher annual salary than Mack on a multi-year deal. With Tuli Tuipulotu's extension due soon, the Chargers signing Mack so early may be a sign that they won't operate at the top of the market for Oweh. Time will tell.

Read about the Khalil Mack reality the Chargers still have to face here

Alec Ingold: 2 years, $7.5 million (per the Chargers)

Fullback Alec Ingold was released by the Miami Dolphins and it took very little time at all for him to reunite with Mike McDaniel in Los Angeles. With the Ingold signing, the Chargers add a legitimate fullback and lessen the reliance on nose tackle Scott Matlock to be a two-way player.

With Ingold now in tow, the Chargers have another chess piece to run McDaniel's offense. That alone makes it an important signing.

Charlie Kolar: 3 years, $24.3 million (per Tom Pelissero)

The Chargers continued their trek of collecting former Ravens by signing third-string tight end Charlie Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million contract. At first glance, this seems like a massive overpay for a blocking tight end who was third on his previous team's depth chart, but it likely isn't as much of an overspend as it looks.

The construction of the deal itself, with guaranteed money and how the cap hits are distributed, are a big factor in the affordability. Plus, Kolar will have more opportunity in Los Angeles than he did in Baltimore, which is what the Chargers are banking on at this price point.

Keaton Mitchell: 2 years, $9.25 million

The Chargers found their Omarion Hampton running mate in yet another former Ravens player, signing Keaton Mitchell to an affordable two-year deal. Mitchell was a fan-favorite trade target who never panned out after Najee Harris last season, so his addition to the room is welcomed.

Mitchell will compete with Kimani Vidal for backup running back reps while also giving the team depth in the inevitable instance where one of the backs get banged up throughout the season. As a speedy option, he is a great yang to Hampton's ying.

Departures

Odafe Oweh (per Adam Schefter)

Odafe Oweh's great half-season with the Bolts netted him a massive contract in free agency. Oweh reportedly agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Commanders just months after the Chargers landed him for Alohi Gilman and a fifth-round pick.

Oweh quickly became a fan favorite in Los Angeles with many wanting the Bolts to re-sign him this offseason. As great as he was in LA, it does make sense why the Chargers would avoid giving a $100 million contract to someone who essentially had a good half season with the team.

The Chargers still have Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, which is a great start at edge rusher. Now the team just needs to replace Oweh with a controlled third edge rusher, perhaps in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Zion Johnson (per Adam Schefter)

Zion Johnson reportedly agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Johnson's price tag was a hotly debated topic heading into free agency and even though he signed for less than expected, the Chargers still opted to let him walk.

The Chargers will have three different starters on the interior in 2026 after a season that fielded one of the worst offensive lines in recent NFL history. The hope is that better health at tackle and improvements in the interior will catapult the Bolts into true Super Bowl contention.

Benjamin St-Juste (per Ian Rapoport)

It wasn't a popular move when the Chargers signed Benjamin St-Juste last offseason. St-Juste was viewed as a bargain-bin signing as his four-year tenure with the Washington Commanders couldn't have gone any worse.

In classic Jesse Minter fashion, the Chargers got the most out of St-Juste and turned him into a truly valuable rotational corner — one that fans didn't want to see leave this offseason.

Alas, St-Juste signed with the Green Bay Packers, ending his tenure with the Chargers at just one year. It may be disappointing, but Chargers fans saw this exact scenario work out in the team's favor with Kristian Fulton, so the hope is that happens again.

Mekhi Becton, RG (per Jeremy Fowler)

Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that the Chargers are planning to release guard Mekhi Becton. The Chargers are freeing up $9.7 million in cap space by releasing Becton, which will almost certainly be used on the offensive line.

Becton's lone season in Los Angeles was a disappointment. The former New York Jets' first-round pick was unable to recapture his form that got him a pay day in the first place with the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, injuries and poor play plagued him throughout the season.

With the release, the Chargers do not have a single starting offensive lineman on the interior. Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are the only starting linemen on the roster.

Will Dissly, TE

Will Dissly watched his role with the Chargers diminish throughout the 2025 season, giving the team a pretty clear-cut decision about his future. In releasing the veteran tight end, the Chargers free up roughly $4.4 million in cap space.

That is not a game-changing number but it did not make sense for the Chargers to pay over $5 million for a tight end who was going to be a healthy scratch every week. Dissly now finds himself in a free-agent market that may force him into early retirement.

Savion Washington, RT

Savion Washington was looped into the first wave of releases alongside Becton and Dissly. He was not a difference maker for the Chargers and his release freed up $880,000 in cap space.

Other Chargers signings

Trevor Penning: one year, $4.5 million

The Chargers re-signed Penning after trading a future seventh-round pick for him at the deadline this past season. Penning will return to the Bolts as a swing tackle backing up Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.

Cole Strange: two years, $13 million

To say the Chargers' first two guard/tackle signings of free agency are strange would be an understatement. After re-signing Penning, the Chargers signed Cole Strange, who started, and struggled, for Mike McDaniel in 2025. Hopefully Sean McVay isn't laughing at this signing too.

Deane Leonard: one year, $2 million

Deane Leonard signed a one-year, $2 million deal to return to the Chargers in 2026. Leonard almost exclusively played special teams for the Chargers last season and was fine in that regard. He does not move the needle defensively.

Trey Pipkins: two years, $10 million

The Chargers re-signed Trey Pipkins to be the team's swing tackle, which also means Trevor Penning is the swing guard and Cole Strange is probably a starting guard. Bringing Pipkins back is good business, the other moving parts may not be.

Del'Shawn Phillips: two years, $7.5 million

The Chargers made another specal teams-inspired move by re-signing standout linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips to a two-year deal that can be worth up to $10 million. Phillips played a key role for Ryan Ficken last season and will do so again in 2026.

Josh Harris: contract TBD

The Chargers announced Wednesday that they re-signed veteran long snapper Josh Harris. Harris missed games in 2025 and it was extremely noticeable, making his return to the Chargers more important than it may seem.

Denzel Perryman: one year, money TBD

The Chargers re-signed veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman to a one-year deal on Friday. Perryman returns for his third year in his second stint with the Chargers.

Dalvin Tomlinson: one-year, $7.5 million

The Chargers gave veteran defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson a one-year, $7.5 million contract with $6 million guaranteed. Tomlinson beefs up the defensive line room and will play a key role alongside Teair Tart and Jamaree Caldwell.

Trey Lance: one-year, up to $6.75 million

A new offensive coordinator didn't change who the Chargers wanted backing up Justin Herbert next season. Even with some potential concerns if he ever did have to play, the Chargers re-signed Trey Lance to a one-year deal up to $6.75 million over the weekend.

Tony Jefferson: one-year, $2 million

Tony Jefferson is returning for a third season in Los Angeles after initial concerns that he would not return to the Bolts.

Other Chargers departures

Otito Ogbonnia: Dallas Cowboys

After a four-year stretch with the Chargers that was pretty forgettable, Otito Ogbonnia signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers certainly could have brought Ogbonnia back for depth at that price, but will opt to use his roster space in other ways.

Jamaree Salyer: Miami Dolphins

Jamaree Salyer thrived in a depth role for the Chargers but wasn't a scheme fit in Mike McDaniel's offense. As a result, Salyer signed a one-year deal with McDaniel's former team, the Miami Dolhpins.

Da'Shawn Hand: Atlanta Falcons

On the same day the Chargers signed Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. It likely won't factor into the compensatory pick formula because of the cost.

Best targets remaining

Elgton Jenkins, G, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers released center Elgton Jenkins on Monday and he has future Charger written all over him, especially after the team lost Zion Johnson in free agency. The Chargers need to sign at least one starting guard in free agency before the draft and Jenkins may be the option.

Jenkins struggled at center for the Packers last season but he has thrived at left guard in the past. He exclusively played left guard in 2024 and allowed just 18 pressures in 564 pass-blocking snaps. Jenkins isn't the greatest run-blocker historically, but his deficiencies there can be masked.

It's also important to note that as a released player, Jenkins does not count toward the compensatory pick formula for the 2027 NFL Draft. That's typically something GM Joe Hortiz values.

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.