In his end-of-season press conference, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh said he wants to retain everybody he can in this upcoming offseason. After that statement, he admitted that the process is easier said than done. On the other hand, Joe Hortiz said when he first got the GM job that he loves the compensatory pick formula. Of course, the comp pick machine can’t get going until the team loses guys in Free Agency.
With that in mind, losing players this free agency is inevitable. However, this could end well for the Chargers. As Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday, everyone on this team improved this season, and it could give them some more money in Free Agency. This would start the ideal cycle of the Chargers being rewarded with comp picks. Anyway, here are some players that could have already suited up in the powder blue for the last time.
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
The case of Asante Samuel Jr. is by far the most interesting out of any pending Free Agent for the Chargers. Samuel was the top corner in this secondary for a few years at this point. However, he was less available this season and some of his teammates picked up the slack (and then some). Fifth-round rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still both had more impressive seasons than Samuel.
Kristian Fulton (remember his name) even became the Chargers’ CB1, surprising many as he revived his career. Even with the Chargers showing that they can be an even better secondary without Samuel, he will surely get interest from other teams in Free Agency. A team like the Eagles or Raiders could easily take a risk on Samuel and offer him more than the Chargers would feel comfortable giving out to a guy who has had trouble tackling. Samuel has said he wants to return to the Chargers, but one should keep in mind that he has not yet seen what teams will offer him.
EDGE Khalil Mack
Losing Khalil Mack would be the worst start to a Chargers offseason. Since trading for him in 2022, Mack has been one of the best players on this roster. The future Hall of Famer has been available, and consistent, and has caused nightmares for opposing quarterbacks ever since arriving in Los Angeles. After the season ended, Mack said he doesn’t yet know where he will take his career. There’s a possibility that he could hang up the cleats and ride into the sunset that is Canton. If he doesn’t retire, however, he will be an Unrestricted Free Agent.
Mack will have to face the question of whether he wants to play or not. If he decides to continue his career, he will have to figure out if the Chargers give him the best chance to get his first taste of playoff success. It would be heartbreaking to see such an integral piece of this team move into the next chapter of his life, but it would be wrong not to include him on this list.
CB Kristian Fulton
Kristian Fulton was a key part of this team, but he is the ideal case for Joe Hortiz and the comp pick formula. After a bad year in Tennessee with the Titans, Fulton was essentially damaged goods. He signed later in Free Agency with the Chargers to revitalize his career. This worked great for him, and he had a career year in Los Angeles. It is in the best interest of both parties to move on from one another.
Fulton could get a lot of money from a CB-needy team, and the Chargers could benefit from giving their young guys bigger roles while investing in a more low-risk, high-reward option in a bigger name. Overall, Kristian Fulton is the reason Joe Hortiz loves the comp pick formula, and that makes it hard to see the former Titan returning.
EDGE Joey Bosa
Despite Bosa being the face of the Chargers since the San Diego days, his time with the team may be nearing its end. Bosa will be a candidate to be let go this offseason for multiple reasons. For starters, Bosa hasn’t been nearly available enough to warrant giving him the money they do. Plus, Tuli Tuipulotu is ready for a bigger role on this team, and giving him a starting spot would do just that. It just seems like the time is right for this Charger to part ways with the team and move on in his career.
DE Poona Ford
Poona Ford is another player to watch out for in the comp pick formula. Ford went from Seahawks Special Teams to genuinely being one of the better interior D-lineman in football this year. Ford was one of the best stories in the league. There is a world where he re-signs with the team, but he could get enough money from another team to give the Bolts a good compensatory pick in the future.
There is a thought process that if Ford could thrive in this scheme, imagine what an established star could do in the same role. However, he seems like a player Harbaugh would love to have back, so if the market isn’t there, the Chargers would surely try to bring their guy back.