The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and with money left to spend, the LA Chargers know which remaining free agents they can add for depth. Los Angeles isn't going to go on a spending spree, but they can use the remaining cap space to strategically add to needs that exist on the roster following the draft.
This is a common practice in the NFL. Waiting to sign specific free agents gives teams more flexibility in the draft, and in the Chargers' case, helps with the compensatory pick formula. Players signed after the following Monday of the draft don't count toward the comp pick formula, which is a big deal for Chargers' GM Joe Hortiz.
While the Chargers have the means to bring in multiple free agents, there's one name that is such a perfect match it would be surprising if it didn't happen. After not taking a tight end in the draft, the stars are aligned for Darren Waller to be a Charger.
Darren Waller is a perfect free agent for the Chargers to sign after the NFL Draft
Waller is someone who we circled as a potential post-draft signing before April's showcase began and the reasoning is only more concrete now that the draft has actually played out.
Los Angeles didn't take a tight end despite needing to add another rotation player to the room. This is not wholly surprising as it was a thin tight end class and the options that were available flew off the board rather quickly. There wasn't a must-have option that the Chargers passed on in a reasonable spot.
Hortiz and the Chargers front office likely knew this would be the case heading into the draft but the team still had to go in and see what transpired. After all, if Kenyon Sadiq had somehow fallen to the Bolts at 22 then there would have been legitimate conversations.
Instead, the Chargers can fall back on Waller, which isn't a bad fallback plan in the slightest. The veteran tight end returned to the NFL after being retired for a year and instantly made a difference on the Miami Dolphins last year. He knows how to succeed in Mike McDaniel's offense.
Waller finished the season with 24 catches for 283 yards but his impact was mostly felt in the end zone. The former Raider caught six touchdown passes, four of which came in his first three games back from retirement.
In addition to his ties to McDaniel, Waller also has real ties to this front office. The Baltimore Ravens drafted Waller in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft while Joe Hortiz was in the front office. Hortiz has made a habit out of getting former Ravens, and while Waller's Ravens tenure was remarkable, it still applies.
From a fit perspective, it doesn't get much better than Waller at this stage. Oronde Gadsden II will still be the primary pass catcher, while Charlie Kolar is going to be the blocking specialist. The Chargers need a second tight end who can catch passes, particularly in the red area. Waller is that guy, and with Gadsden's improved blocking, the team doesn't have to worry about Waller's efforts there.
It's a match made in heaven. It doesn't seem like a matter of if it will happen, but when.
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