The Marathon Continues.

[Soapy]

Chargers Bolster Roster with Beckham Jr, Depth
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed wide receiver Odell Beckham to a one year, $6.03 million contract.

The news came the same day that other receivers such as Devonta Smith and Tyreke Hill signed much bigger deals with Smith heading to Dallas on a three year, $30.8 million and Hill getting a massive two year, $35.6 million deal with the Colts who have been big spenders this free agency cycle.

The Chargers were reportedly interested in both receivers but never made an official offer due to the asking price. The Chargers ultimately went with the cheaper option in Beckham who has caught at least 72 passes in each of the last three seasons which coincide with him being able to stay healthy the last few years. Beckham had not played 16 games in a season since 2019 until 2025 before rattling off three straight seasons of availability.

At 35, the Chargers are hoping to get some value out of him as with the extra money, they were able to sign some other rotational pieces.

The team signed three linebackers in Jaylon Smith, Deion Jones and Henry Woodson. They were all one-year deals ranging from $1.36 million for Jones and $570,000 for Woodson as the team traded away linebacker Shaq Quarterman and did not re-sign Michael Pinckney.

They also brought back safety and special teams ace Ashtyn Davis as well as signed tight end Stephen Burke. Davis is a one year deal in the $1 million range while Burke is two year, $7.36 million. The former third round pick caught 23 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns last season.

QB Wade Calloway was also signed on a one-year deal.

[Soapy]

Even with Beckham Signing, WR Must be Addressed in Upcoming Draft
Even after trading away one of their first round picks for guard Stephen Ziegler, the Los Angeles Chargers remain loaded with draft capital, perhaps the most in the draft with two first round picks and two second round picks. They'll be wise to spend at least one of them on a receiver.

It's a deep class at receiver with seven players at the position receiving a first round grade from ESPN's Todd McShay. The leaders of the class are Texas A&M's Zach Knight, Notre Dame's Kirby Riley, Michigan's Shaq Milstead and UCF's Tyson Dunn; all of whom the Chargers have held individual workouts with. They're all similar receivers outside of Dunn who stands at six-foot-six and 232 pounds. The rest are in the five-foot-ten range who are go-route specialists in the likes of Will Fuller V and Brandin Cooks. Knight has some physicality to his game at 191 pounds with his ability to catch contested balls.

The most ideal fit for the Chargers offense would be Milstead due to his ability to beat press coverage, something the Chargers' receivers struggled with last season. With Los Angeles having a strong running game, press coverage is something they can expect to continue to see as defensive backs are crowding the line of scrimmage to help against the run.

The Chargers would also be wise to start looking at succession plans for Joey Bosa. Despite coming off back-to-back 20+ sack season, Bosa is on the wrong side of 30 and outside of Rashard Keaton, there aren't other legitimate edge rushers on the roster. Once again, it's a talented class at that position with the likes of Robert Cottrell and Cortney Dunlap. The team did a good job of phasing out Nasir Adderley who was another aging star player and are doing the same with Sean Butler and Derwin James. Both James and Bosa are still playing at a high level but at any moment, the cliff could come.

[Soapy]

Chargers Bring Back Henry, Add Size Along Defensive Line
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed running back Derrick Henry along with defensive tackles A'Shawn Robinson and Poona Ford to one-year deals.

Henry, 34, was effective when on the field last season but struggled to stay healthy, rushing for 711 yards while missing seven games. The team brought him back on a one-year, $3.08 million deal.

Robinson and Ford are also veterans at 32 and 33 year old respectively who should fit into the rotation at nose tackle along with Cedric Darius. Darius saw his play dipped last season and perhaps some added competition, like he had his rookie season with Danny Shelton, could bring him back to his rookie form.

Top Free Agents
QB Dak Prescott, 35 ‣ 77 overall | Seattle Seahawks
QB Jalen Hurts, 29 ‣ 75 overall | Minnesota Vikings
QB Carson Wentz, 35 ‣ 75 overall | Green Bay Packers

HB Cam Adkins, 26 ‣ 79 overall | Los Angeles Rams
HB Eno Benjamin, 29 ‣ 77 overall | Cincinnati Bengals
HB Dareon Sheppard, 25 ‣ 77 overall | Baltimore Ravens
HB Derris Guice, 31 ‣ 77 overall | Jacksonville Jaguars
HB Travis Etienne, 28 ‣ 76 overall | Dallas Cowboys
HB J.K. Dobbins, 29 ‣ 76 overall | New York Jets
HB Derrick Henry, 29 ‣ 76 overall | Los Angeles Chargers

WR Tyreek Hill, 34 ‣ 87 overall | Indianapolis Colts
WR Devonta Smith, 28 ‣ 80 overall | Dallas Cowboys
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, 27 ‣ 80 overall | Chicago Bears
WR Chris Hernandez, 26 ‣ 78 overall | Buffalo Bills
WR Kawai McCullers, 27 ‣ 77 overall | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Odell Beckham Jr, 35 ‣ 76 overall | Los Angeles Chargers

LT Lester Harris, 28 ‣ 78 overall | Houston Texans
LG Edwin Rankin, 24 ‣ 86 overall | Indianapolis Colts
C Netane Muti, 29 ‣ 82 overall | New York Giants
C Devin Johnson, 26 ‣ 82 overall | Minnesota Vikings
RG Chris Lindstrom, 31 ‣ 78 overall | Denver Broncos
RG Lane Briggs, 28 ‣ 77 overall | San Francisco 49ers
RT Amari Conley, 26 ‣ 82 overall | Kansas City Chiefs
RT Mike McGlinchey, 33 ‣ 80 overall | Los Angeles Rams
RT Jedrick Wills Jr, 30 ‣ 79 overall | San Francisco 49ers
RT Chris Clark, 27 ‣ 79 overall | Philadelphia Eagles

DE Danielle Hunter, 33 ‣ 84 overall | Carolina Panthers
DE Latwan Stallwroth, 26 ‣ 79 overall | Minnesota Vikings
DE Greg O'Neal, 25 ‣ 79 overall | Denver Broncos
DE A.J. Epenesa, 30 ‣ 78 overall | Pittsburgh Steelers

OLB Greg Rousseau, 27 ‣ 81 overall | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OLB Terrell Lewis, 29 ‣ 77 overall | Las Vegas Raiders
ILB Francis Lovelocke, 30 ‣ 77 overall | Tennessee Titans

CB Tre'Davious White, 33 ‣ 83 overall | New England Patriots
CB Dorian Burnett, 24 ‣ 79 overall | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
S Justin Simmons, 34 ‣ 78 overall | Unsigned

[Soapy]

Chargers Acquire Titans' WR A.J. Brown in Trade
The Los Angeles Chargers have traded their two first round picks in 2028 as well as their second round pick in 2029 to the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver A.J. Brown.

With four receivers going in the first six picks, the Chargers decided to punt on what many considered to be a weak draft and leveraged their draft capital for a talented but aging receiver in Brown who turns 32 in June. The trade reunites Brown and former college teammate D.K. Metcalf.

The move is one that fans and people around the league are going to talk about for some time as the Chargers gave up a lot for a 31-year old receiver who has one 1,000-yard season in the last five season and is due $38.2 million over the next three seasons.

The Chargers certainly got better on draft night but at what cost?

2028 NFL Draft Selections
1. IND ‣ DE Robert Cottrell, Kentucky ‣ 78 overall
2. LV ‣ WR Zach Knight, Texas A&M ‣ 74 overall
3. TOR ‣ WR Shaq Milstead, Michigan ‣ 75 overall
4. NE ‣ DE Cortney Dunlap, Kansas State ‣ 76 overall
5. TB ‣ WR Tyson Dunn, UCF ‣ 72 overall
6. DET ‣ WR Kirby Riley, Notre Dame ‣ 72 overall
7. PHI ‣ CB Anton Frazier, Maryland ‣ 77 overall
8. ARI ‣ LB Tony Thomas, UCF ‣ 62 overall
9. LAR ‣ OLB Cedric Whiteside, Texas ‣ 74 overall
10. MIN ‣ CB Solomon McGhee, Kansas State ‣ 66 overall
11. NYJ ‣ LB Leron King, Purdue ‣ 64 overall
12. TEN ‣ S Andrew Holloway, Boston College ‣ 74 overall
13. CLE ‣ DE Mike Wiggins, Purdue ‣ 69 overall
14. TEN ‣ WR Julius Demps, Ohio ‣ 67 overall
15. JAX ‣ CB Juan Hall, Cincinnati ‣ 66 overall
16. KC ‣ CB Torrian Wortham, Southern Miss ‣ 70 overall
17. CIN ‣ DE Javonte Blake, Pittsburgh ‣ 71 overall
18. ATL ‣ G Teryan Davis, Texas ‣ 65 overall
19. TEN ‣ LB Tavon Thornton, Lafayette ‣ 64 overall
20. CAR ‣ DE Brendan Peck, Stanford ‣ 66 overall
21. BUF ‣ HB John Spears, SMU ‣ 75 overall
22. SF ‣ WR Perry Boone, Connecticut ‣ 66 overall
23. GB ‣ DT Antwan Sawyer, NC State ‣ 70 overall
24. HOU ‣ G Andrew Hodel, Vanderbilt ‣ 76 overall
25. BAL ‣ LB Greg Washington, Wisconsin ‣ 73 overall
26. DEN ‣ DE Davonte Gates, Connecticut ‣ 70 overall
27. CHI ‣ DE Earl Middlebrooks, Vanderbilt ‣ 69 overall
28. NYG ‣ LB Andrew Mosley, Southern Arkansas ‣ 70 overall
29. DAL ‣ G Eli Reed, USC ‣ 64 overall
30. PIT ‣ CB Avery Dunbar, Illinois ‣ 66 overall
31. NO ‣ HB Lee Mooney, Washington State ‣ 78 overall
32. CAR ‣ DE Nicholas Woody, Wake Forest ‣ 73 overall

[Soapy]

Chargers Draft Southern Miss Edge Rusher Willis Rayford in Second Round
With the 56th pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Southern Miss defensive lineman Willis Rayford.

Rayford is a bit undersized at six-feet and 251 pounds for the edge position but was plenty productive at Southern Miss. As a true freshman, he played in all 13 games (2 starts), finishing with 32 total tackles, 11.5 for loss (led the team), 8.5 sacks (led the team), 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries, including a touchdown. As a sophomore, he appeared in 13 games with 12 starts at right defensive end, registering 59 tackles (11.5 tackles for loss), 6.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and one forced fumble. As a junior, he started 12 out of 13 games at right defensive end, posting 47 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss (third on the team), 9 sacks (led the team), 9 quarterback hurries (led the team), 2 pass breakups and one interception returned for a touchdown.

His measurables, outside of his height, also check out. He had a 33.7" vert and a 10'4" on the broad jump, ranking him in the top three for both categories. At this point in his development, Rayford is a bit of a one-trick pony but he should be able to do that one trick early and often as part of the rotation at edge.

[Soapy]

Chargers Keep Improving Secondary, Draft Another Safety
With the 64thth pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Kent State safety Nick Steward.

This marks the third straight draft where the Chargers have selected a safety in the second round, a trend that shows just how much the front office values the position and their versatility as they often deploy three safeties on obvious passing downs as opposed to a dime look with four traditional corners.

Similar to Sean Butler last season, Steward was a virtual unknown until his impressive combine performance with a combine-best 6.86 3-cone drill and 4.12 seconds on the 20-yard shuttle shot him up draft boards. Many still expected Steward to be a middle round pick but the Chargers saw something in him and given their track history, it's fair to give them the benefit of the doubt.

During his senior season, Steward had 64 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

[Soapy]

Chargers Draft Potential Henry Replacement in Cal's Willson
With the 128th pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected tight end Don Willson out of California.

Throughout the week leading up to the Senior Bowl, Willson performed well at practice and showed scouts and teams his versatility, blocking capability, and his receiving ability. However, a slow 40-time at the combine (5.09 seconds) tanked his draft stock which is how the Chargers were able to even be in a position to draft the former Mackey finalist.

The learning curve for Willson as a receiver will be a steep one and his physical limitations might never let him flourish into a full time tight end in a passing offense but he fits a need for the team following Eli Malecki's departure as a blocking tight end.

[Soapy]

Chargers Wrap Up Draft with Punter, Mr. Irrelevant
With their final picks in the draft, the Los Angeles Chargers drafted Boston College punter Clay Rose with the 192nd pick and fullback Teryan Vanover out of San Diego State with the final pick of the draft

Rose is a Ray Guy recipient which is awarded to college football's top punter and will compete for the punter spot along with Johnny Townsend. Townsend had a good year in 2027 but failed to match his 2026 season where he was arguably the best punter in the sport.

Vanover, meanwhile, give the Chargers yet another flexible player at the fullback/H-back/tight end position along with Don Willson and Eric Harper. He's an athletic player that played multiple positions at San Diego State after being a high school running back.

[Captain Canada]

Your receiving corps would be insane if they were all in their prime: DK, OBJ, and now AJ Brown

[Soapy]

Your receiving corps would be insane if they were all in their prime: DK, OBJ, and now AJ Brown

forreal lol hoping to still mix in some young guys