The LA Chargers need offensive line help this offseason. So when a big-name free agent confirms he won't return to his previous team, the Chargers must take notice.
Three-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro guard Wyatt Teller announced on social media Wednesday that he won't return to the Cleveland Browns this offseason. The 31-year-old instantly becomes a compelling target for a Chargers team that may need a complete revamp on the interior offensive line.
As compelling as Teller's resume is, the Chargers should learn from their past mistakes. Los Angeles ignored the warning signs with Mekhi Becton and sold itself on the best version of the former first-round pick. It's important the Chargers don't do the same with Teller, regradless what the resume looks like.
Chargers are better off not chasing Wyatt Teller in free agency
Teller's All-Pro nods were certainly earned, but he's no longer the same player he was when he received the honors. The Chargers would be paying for past performance and that line of thinking has gotten the Bolts in trouble in the past.
The veteran right guard struggled in 2025 to the point where he was removed from the starting offensive line midseason. While he was dealing with a lingering calf injury, Teller himself admitted that the decision to rotate him out of the starting offensive line was probably tied to his poor performance.
Teller ranked 65th among 81 qualified guards in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grade last season. That is an upgrade from Becton, but the Chargers should be targeting a big upgrade, not an upgrade from horrendous to mediocre.
As promising as Teller has been in the past, pass-blocking has never been his main forte. Run-blocking has been at the core of what makes Teller successful, and while that is valuable for the Chargers, that isn't something that needs to be prioritized.
Plus, the arrow typically points down for a reason with a guard on the other side of 30. It's not an absurd take to suggest that Teller's best days are behind him and won't return at this stage of his career.
If the Chargers are going to spend big on an offensive lineman, they should spend big on center Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum is one of the best young centers in the sport, and at 25 years old, arguably hasn't hit his prime. Los Angeles can fill in the pieces around him with cheaper guards or the 2026 NFL Draft. It will be harder to pay a premium for Teller while also finding a big upgrade at center.
Teller will definitely find a new home in free agency and he will probably get paid well for his efforts due to his past achievements. The Chargers need to let another offensive-line hungry team make that commitment.