The first day of NFL free agency did not go how LA Chargers fans envisioned it would go. After missing out on DK Metcalf and Davante Adams over the weekend, fans were hopeful the Chargers would make use of their cap space to bring in impactful players.
The day started off well with Khalil Mack re-signing on a one-year, $18 million contract. That wound up being the highlight of the day, though, as several key free agents landed elsewhere. Los Angeles finally made its first external free-agent signing in the late afternoon and it was disappointing, to say the least.
General manager Joe Hortiz and the Chargers front office continued its eyebrow-raising start to free agency by re-signing a player nobody expected to come back. After a tumultuous season as the team's starting center, the Chargers have extended free-agent-to-be Bradley Bozeman.
Chargers bring back Bradley Bozeman after awful 2024 season
The Chargers had legitimate interior offensive line issues in 2024 and Bozeman was a big reason why. Bozeman didn't just struggle in one-on-one matchups at center, he didn't provide the anchoring presence on the offensive line that makes centers so important.
Center has been considered one of the Chargers' primary offseason needs because of Bozeman's poor play.
Bozeman finished last season with a 61.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade and a 52.3 pass-blocking grade. There were 19 centers with at least 600 pass-blocking snaps last season and Bozeman ranked 17th in PFF's pass-blocking grade.
Bozeman led all centers in total pressures allowed (38) and ranked 15th among the 17 qualified centers in pass-block efficiency. His run blocking wasn't a highlight, either. Bozeman's run-blocking grade ranked 12th among 15 centers with 400 run-blocking snaps.
If the Chargers deploy Bozeman as a starter in any capacity next season it will be an abject failure for this front office. The Chargers simply have far too many resources to justify playing someone who was outright bad at every turn for the team last season.
Bozeman does have positional versatility and very well might be better at guard at this point in his career than center. Even if he is slightly better at guard, Bozeman has not proven he is a capable starting offensive lineman in today's NFL.
It's an easier pill to swallow if the Chargers re-signed Bozeman to be a backup offensive lineman who serves as a locker room leader. But with how inactive the Chargers have been in free agency, Bozeman may be in the running to start next season.