For the second time in two years of the Jim Harbaugh era, the Los Angeles Chargers went 11-6 in the regular season and lost in blowout fashion in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Right now, that's the ceiling of this team, and despite how good the media wants this team to be, they just are not special at the moment.
At some point, Los Angeles needs to get aggressive and get serious about filling key roster needs. Free agency is now less than three weeks away, so the Bolts do have a chance to put their cap space to use to bring in a haul that helps the team complete for the AFC West title in 2026.
In fact, this free agency haul would thrust the team to the top of the AFC and allow them to compete for more than just Wild Card berths in 2026.
Los Angeles Chargers could compete for the AFC West crown in 2026 with this free agency haul
Tyler Linderbaum, C
With Bradley Bozeman retiring, the Chargers now have an even clearer need at center. Tyler Linderbaum is going to reset the center market and was surely going to be a huge target for LA even if Bozeman wanted to continue playing.
Linderbaum is simply one of the very best at his position in the NFL, and LA has dealt with bottom-tier interior offensive line play for a while now. In 2025, Bozeman's PFF grade was 51.7, which was dead last among all centers.
With the Chargers getting both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back at some point, adding a top-end player like Linderbaum could put this offensive line over the edge, but that isn't the only offensive lineman the Chargers sign in this mock free agency haul.
The front office could truly swing for the fences here and make two big-time additions.
Braden Smith, RT
The Chargers could look to sign Braden Smith in free agency. Smith has been a right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts for years now and should be able to find a nice payday. In my opinion, there is a world where Slater kicks inside to guard upon his full return from his patellar tendon injury.
Especially for offensive linemen, patellar tendon injuries are generally extremely difficult to return to full form from, and even when Slater is healthy enough to play, there is a chance he's not 100 percent himself.
Adding someone like Smith in free agency not only solidifies the right side of the offensive line, but it also solves another position with Slater kicking inside to guard. All of a sudden, two of the Chargers three interior players are Linderbaum and Slater, and the hypothetical tackle duo of Alt and Smith would stand out as one of the best in the NFL.
Alec Pierce, WR
One thing that Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert can do well is throw the ball down the field, and Alec Pierce is someone who excels at that. Pierce has averaged over 20 yards per reception in each of the last two seasons.
He's not going to be a no. 1 wide receiver, but he profiles as a competent no. 2 option and is a solid blocker as well. The Chargers already have Ladd McConkey, who is a '1a' option, so Pierce could fit right in.
John Franklin-Myers, DE
The Chargers do have some free agents along the defensive line, so someone they could pursue is John Franklin-Myers, who just spent the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos. Not only would the Chargers be getting an above-average defensive end, but they'd also be 'stealing' a free agent from a rival team they are trying to overtake in the division.
Franklin-Myers isn't someone who is going to play 70 percent of the defensive snaps, but he has a ton of pass-rushing upside and has produced wherever he's played.