It's not every day one of the best offensive minds in the NFL becomes available and wants to become your offensive coordinator, but that's exactly the situation the LA Chargers find themselves in with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel is expected to become the Chargers' offensive coordinator, spurning several head coaching opportunities to partner with Jim Harbaugh.
McDaniel's tenure in Miami didn't end on a great note, but it doesn't change the fact that he is one of the most innovative offensive minds in football. At one point in time, McDaniel had an offense with Tua Tagovailoa operating as one of the most feared in the entire league. Just imagine what he can do with Justin Herbert.
Those who have played for McDaniel in the past may be salivating at this partnership and want to get in on the fun. With over $100 million in projected cap space, the Chargers do have the means to bring in as many former Dolphins as they want this offseason.
Here are some compelling candidates.
3 former Dolphins the Chargers could reasonably pair with Mike McDaniel
WR Tyreek Hill
Let's get the big one out of the way first. To many, Tyreek Hill is not an intriguing name considering the horrific injury he suffered last year coupled with a massive cap hit and worries of regression. And to be fair, the Chargers wouldn't be getting the prime version of Hill.
That being said, there is a compelling case to make for Hill if the Chargers want to take a swing. If traded, Hill would have a cap hit in the mid-20 millions and would be an expiring deal. If cut, the Chargers could theoretically sign him to a cost-effective, short-term contract.
Throwing a future late-round pick to absorb one year of Hill's salary isn't as bad as it seems. It wouldn't be the full number the Dolphins are paying, and it wouldn't come with any long-term risk. Obviously, it would be better to use that money on offensive linemen, but the Chargers could do both. This could be a way to use the cap space now without committing to a multi-year deal the team may regret.
It's a real possibility, and as risky as it may seem, it really is just a one-year flier. With Hill himself already weighing in on the hire, it's impossible to ignore him as a candidate.
TE Greg Dulcich
The former Denver Broncos tight end was regarded as an exciting pass-catching tight end coming out of the 2022 NFL Draft. Injuries derailed the start of Greg Dulcich's career, and just four year later, he is someone who has faded into the background of NFL discussions.
Dulcich signed to the Dolphins practice squad last season and actually got a chance at consistent playing time due to injuries. The former UCLA Bruin made the most of that playing time, finishing with a solid 335 yards on 26 catches with a touchdown. He caught 18 passes for 222 yards in the final five games of the season.
Pro Football Focus graded Dulcich out at a 77.4, primarily due to his pass-catching ability. He is not someone who will be an anchor in the run game, but he absolutely has value as a rotational tight end who can catch passes.
Oronde Gadsden II is the future of the tight end position for the Chargers. But with Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin's futures unclear, the Chargers would benefit from bringing in another young tight end with pass-catching upside.
LG Cole Strange
It would be a mistake if the Chargers brought Cole Strange in to be a starting guard in 2026. However, it would not be a bad idea whatsoever to bring him in as a swing guard who could continue developing as a backup under McDaniel.
Strange's NFL career has not gone to plan after the Patriots reached for him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After three bad seasons in New England, Strange landed in Miami where he had an okay season. There are still some real concerns in his pass-blocking ability, but he has proven to be a good run blocker at the NFL level.
He did start to play better as the year went on, and McDaniel has publicly praised him in the past. While he may not have a starting job lined up in LA, Strange may prefer to follow McDaniel (and hopefully, Frank Smith as well) to continue his development as an NFL offensive lineman.
And if so, he would be a solid signing on a one-year deal to provide depth for the interior offensive line. There just has to be more impactful offensive line moves on top of bringing in Strange.