Weeks before the beginning of NFL free agency, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz allowed insight into his free agency approach.
"You don't make decisions in free agency and then plan to adjust accordingly in the draft," he said. "...Stay draft-centric and use free agency to build around it."
It's a strategy Hortiz learned from his nearly three decades working in the Baltimore Ravens front office. Baltimore's organization largely spent responsibly in free agency and drafted the players they believed could lead them to Super Bowls. That strategy has kept the Ravens consistently contending, though not every successful team operates that way. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, added an expensive free agent in running back Saquon Barkley, who led them to win Super Bowl LIX.
Still, the Chargers began free agency with the second most cap space in the NFL, upwards of $90 million, and a roster laden with many needs. For that reason, they had been linked to many of the top free agents and trade targets throughout the offseason.
The Chargers were cap-strapped last offseason when Hortiz took the job. Many of his early moves were focused on getting the Chargers cap-compliant, and the marginal cap space he created was used to sign players to one-year deals. This offseason had the potential to be different because of the Chargers' additional space.
But two weeks into free agency, many high-impact players have signed to other teams while Hortiz stayed true to his public comments with mostly one-year, depth-related signings.
With that in mind, here are the biggest questions that remain for the Chargers after the height of free agency:
What is the future for RG Trey Pipkins?
The most significant addition for the Chargers this offseason was the signing of guard Mekhi Becton, who had a career renaissance last season in Philadelphia. The Chargers interior line struggled last season, particularly on the ground, where their interior lineman graded out among the worst in the NFL in run block win rate. The Chargers finished with the 17th-best rushing offense in yards per game, just below league average, which was by far the lowest ranking of Jim Harbaugh's NFL coaching career.
When Harbaugh took the job last January, he promised to bring a dominant, physical running offense, the staple of his previous his teams. In four seasons coaching the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), Harbaugh's offenses never finished outside the top eight in total rushing yards. Becton, who emerged as one of the league's best run blockers in his first season at guard in 2024, helps the Chargers inch closer to the rushing offenses that have buoyed Harbaugh's teams.
After drafting tackle Joe Alt in the first round of last year's draft, the Chargers moved Pipkins from right tackle to right guard. However, the experiment proved largely ineffective.
Pipkins particularly struggled in run-blocking, finishing 50th amongst guards in run block win rate. Becton ranked 24th, significantly higher than both Chargers guards last season. With Becton signed to a two-year deal, Pipkins is expendable. If the Chargers trade or cut Pipkins, it would save them $6.75 million. He is in the final year of a three-year $21.75 million contract.
Is there a chance for a Keenan Allen reunion?
Allen become one of the greatest and beloved players in Chargers history over his 11 seasons with the team, breaking records for receiving yards and catches for a wide receiver in team history. Allen had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023 and was entering the final year of his contract when Hortiz took over as general manager last February. Ultimately, the sides were too far apart on Allen's salary, and Hortiz traded Allen to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft.
It was a move that sources close to Allen said stunned the player, but after a down year in Chicago, Allen is a free agent again and at least one current Charger is hoping for a reunion.
Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with Allen on the Chargers, campaigned for Allen back in L.A. This comes after Williams made a return of his own this offseason, re-joining the Chargers after L.A. released him as a cap casualty last March and he spent last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.
"I would love that," Williams said. "Why not?"
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Will the Chargers prioritize another pass-catcher in the draft?
The Chargers' offensive inconsistency was the team's biggest weakness last season, which ultimately kept them from making a deeper run in the postseason. That much was evident in their loss to the Houston Texans, where quarterback Justin Herbert was pressured on half his dropbacks, threw a season-high four interceptions, and the Chargers struggled to move the ball.
The lone bright spot for the Chargers was wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who had nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown, the most for a rookie in a playoff game in NFL history. Still, that game made it clear that the Chargers need more help on offense. Williams could be that help, but he is coming off of the worst season of his career. The Chargers will likely use the draft to select a tight end or receiver to make this offense more dynamic.
In Baltimore's personnel department, Hortiz was part of staffs that drafted successful tight ends including Mark Andrews and Todd Heap. When it comes to receivers, however, the Ravens struggled. The first Ravens wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl at that position was 2023 draft pick Zay Flowers last season.
Hortiz already has a better start with drafting receivers in Los Angeles by getting McConkey in the second round in his first draft; whomever they select to upgrade this offense will be critical in how much better this team is in 2025.