Chargers, with NFL’s best cap space, look to build around Justin Herbert

After cutting ties with guard Mekhi Becton, tight end Will Dissly and tackle Savion Washington, the Chargers head into NFL free agency with a league-high $99.06 million in salary cap space to work with.

Without question, they are primed to be major players when the market opens Monday. Be it to retain their own unrestricted free agents or to go big-name hunting to fill some of their most pressing needs and build around quarterback Justin Herbert.

Just days before the opening of free agency, here is a look at where things stand for the Chargers:

Unrestricted free agents

WR Keenan Allen, TE Tyler Conklin, LT Austin Deculus, DT Da’Shawn Hand, LS Josh Harris, RB Najee Harris, RB Hassan Haskins, C Andre James, S Tony Jefferson, G Zion Johnson, QB Trey Lance, CB Deane Leonard, Edge Khalil Mack, DT Otito Ogbonnia, Edge Odafe Oweh, G Trevor Penning, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Del’Shawn Phillips, RT Trey Pipkins, G Jamaree Salyer, CB Benjamin St-Juste.

Restricted free agents

TE Tucker Fisk, T Austin Deculus

Exclusive rights free agents

RB Jaret Patterson, RB Kimani Vidal, S Kendall Williamson

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Biggest needs

Offensive line

The Chargers will get a big boost with the return of starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, both of whom missed either the whole season or a big chunk of the 2025 season. But it’s a different story along the interior, where they have already lost starting center Bradley Bozeman to retirement and released Becton, a starting guard but a huge disappointment in his one year in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Johnson, the other starting guard, is a pending free agent.

However, Los Angeles didn’t wait until the start of free agency to make a move. Reports broke Friday morning that the Chargers agreed with a 3-year, $30 million deal with former Washington center Tyler Biadasz to replace Bozeman.

The Chargers created $9.7 million in cap savings by releasing Becton and could use it to re-sign Johnson. But there is a very real possibility they will have to use free agency and the draft to fill two starting spots while also building depth.

The free agent market features a deep pool of interior offensive linemen, with potential targets including Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo, Bills center Connor McGovern and Bills guard David Edwards.

Linderbaum has a connection to Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who was in the Ravens organization when they drafted Linderbaum. The cost will be significant, and the contract likely will be in the $22 million to $25 million range annually.

But an offensive line with Slater, Alt and Linderbaum would be as solid a starting point as any in the NFL.

Edge rusher

With Mack and Oweh pending free agents, the Chargers face the very real possibility of revamping the pass rush around Tuli Tuipulotu, who is heading into the last year of his rookie deal and is up for a significant pay raise.

Mack and Oweh are re-sign candidates, but the Chargers could set their sights even higher and make a serious run at Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Yes, he will be 32 years old next season, but with the Chargers in win-now mode, and Hendrickson just one season removed from putting together back-to-back years of 17.5 sacks, he makes a lot of sense on a shorter-term contract that makes him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in terms of average annual salary.

Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips is also a possibility.

Wide receiver

Even if Allen returns on a team-friendly deal, the Chargers could use some additional pop alongside young receiver Ladd McConkey. So would Herbert, who would appreciate better protection from his offensive line and more weapons in the pass game.

The Chargers have the means to think big at this position, and the Colts may have opened a possible door for them to think big at a position of need.

But using their franchise tag on quarterback Daniel Jones rather than wide receiver Alec Pierce, the Colts created the real possibility of losing Pierce in free agency.

Is Pierce a true No. 1 wide receiver? No. But he wouldn’t have to be in LA, where his versatility and deep ball skills would play perfectly with McConkey.

Pierce’s 21.8 yards per reception and 12 catches of 40 or more yards lead the NFL the last two years. That kind of playmaking would diversify the Chargers’ offense. Is it worth the $27 million to $30 million per season it might cost to sign him?

For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, maybe.

Others to keep an eye on are the Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed, the Packers’ Romeo Doubs and the 49ers’ Jauan Jennings.