The LA Chargers have a laundry list of free agents this offseason with a lot of cap space to spend. For some, free agency represents an opportunity to be rewarded by the Chargers for their efforts. For others, it represents the end of a tenure in Los Angeles.
This is general manager Joe Hortiz's first offseason with actual resources so it is hard to pinpoint exactly what the team will do. The Chargers made savvy (and surprising) moves last offseason but the agenda was completely different. Last year was about fixing. This years is about building on the foundation.
In order to properly do so, the Chargers need to reinforce that foundation by bringing back some of the very players who helped establish it. External help is great but the Chargers would be foolish to part ways with several of the team's free agents.
3 free agents the Chargers must re-sign this offseason:
1. J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins was a revelation for the Chargers in 2024 and was one of the best flier signings in the entire league. There was a tangible difference in the offense when Dobbins was on the field and in 13 games played he finished with 195 carries for 905 yards with nine rushing touchdowns.
While Dobbins had a great turnaround year for the Bolts, teams outside of Los Angeles will likely still be worried about his extensive injury history, especially considering he had a short IR stint in 2024 with the Chargers. This favors the Chargers, as they can likely re-sign Dobbins to a team-friendly price that is slightly higher than his one-year contract signed a year ago.
Dobbins alone is not the answer at the running back position. Some may make the case for drafting another running back with the team not utilizing rookie Kimani Vidal as much as expected in 2024. But if the price is right, and it will be, it makes perfect sense to bring Dobbins back.
2. Poona Ford
The Chargers' defense had the biggest turnaround of any unit in the league in 2024 as the team went from one of the worst defenses in the sport to one of the best. Jesse Minter's unit finished as the best scoring defense in the league, which is much improved from the 24th-ranked defense in 2023.
Nose tackle Poona Ford was the unsung hero of that defense. Without the star power of Derwin James or the media attention for being a standout rookie like Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, Ford did his job every single day without much fanfare.
Ford was critical in plugging rushing lanes on the defensive line, resulting in a Chargers run defense that was miles better than years past. Best of all, like Dobbins, Ford should be obtainable at a reasonable price as run-stuffing nose tackles don't break the bank.
Plus, Ford wants to stay in Los Angeles, so the Chargers have even more reason to bring him back.
3. Teair Tart
Many of the things written about Ford can also be written about Teair Tart, who lined up next to Ford on the Chargers' defensive line. Tart was an 11th-hour addition to the defense in the late summer months and he ended up being one of the most impactful players on the defense.
Tart should also be obtainable at a reasonable price and would allow the Chargers to build some continuity on the interior defensive line. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and the Chargers' defensive line was far from broken last year.
What about the rest of the Chargers' free agents?
The Chargers will likely re-sign more than three of the team's impending free agents. Quite frankly, the team has to re-sign more than three to be able to field an entire roster next season. However, the Chargers would survive if they had to replace any of the other impending free agents.
That includes the biggest free agent of all, Khalil Mack. Mack is by far the most impactful Chargers free agent but the team doesn't have to re-sign him. While he was still great in 2024, regression is finally starting to settle in with Mack and the last thing the Chargers need to do is overpay for past performance.
If the Chargers can re-sign Mack at a reasonable price then great, it is a smart move to make. But if that is not possible, the Chargers don't need to move mountains to get a deal done.