The Los Angeles Chargers will need to clear their books this offseason in spite of the significant cap flexibility they possess.
They have a number of needs to address on both sides of the ball, and they will need to take a long look at their 2025 roster to see who is worth bringing back and who should be cut heading into 2026. Although they, characteristically, did not shell out the large contracts that other teams did, there were a number of players who ultimately did not live up to their contract number.
Mekhi Becton is the most prevalent example, but there are certainly others whose contracts hung like an albatross around Los Angeles's proverbial neck.
Hopefully they will be wiser in how they distribute their capital in 2026.
Contracts that haunted the Chargers in 2025
Mekhi Becton, RG
- 2025 cap hit: $7,327,560
- 2025 total cash: $9,647,560
Becton was perhaps the Chargers' most disappointing development in 2025. They signed him to a major contract in the offseason after a career resurgence on the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl run, hoping his presence would help to solidify the interior of their offensive line.
Becton never quite found his footing in Los Angeles's scheme, dealing with multiple injuries and frustrations with the coaching staff. According to Pro Football Focus, Becton was the third-worst guard in overall protection grade of all qualifying players at the position.
He's a serious cut candidate heading into 2026, and his departure could clear up space for another integral signing.
Bradley Bozeman, C
- 2025 cap hit: $5,073,820
- 2025 total cash: $6,133,820
Along with Becton, Bozeman was the worst performer among the expected starters on the Chargers offensive line. He was the worst center in the league by overall protection grade, and he was often subject to notable missteps up the middle that led to free rushers.
He is also a cut candidate heading into 2026, and Los Angeles must hope they can replace him with a more reliable pass protector.
Will Dissly, TE
- 2025 cap hit: $5,881,300
- 2025 total cash: $4,381,300
For a semi-productive tight end, this number would have been palatable. For Dissly, who only played in nine games and 31% of the team's snaps when he was available, it was inexcusable.
Dissly came on strong with the Chargers in 2024, totaling 50 receptions for 481 yards and two touchdowns. The emergence of Oronde Gadsden II, combined with Dissly's own injury struggles, limited him to just 11 receptions and 97 yards in 2025.
Dissly should be gone this offseason, and Los Angeles can roll with Gadsden and Tucker Fisk at the position.
Bud Dupree, ED
- 2025 cap hit: $3,893,465
- 2025 total cash: $3,488,465
Dupree's inclusion, similar to Dissly's, is not a result of his contract number. It is a result of his severely limited impact.
The Chargers entered 2025 with the hope that Dupree and rookie Kyle Kennard could help shore up their depth on the edge. Dupree finished the season with just two sacks and 16 combined tackles. Kennard finished with zero sacks and two tackles.
This lack of production ultimately led the team to their trade for Odafe Oweh, so maybe it was a positive development after all. But Dupree failed to leave his mark on Los Angeles in 2025, and he was one of the more disappointing depth pieces this season.