Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh
Getty
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh
The Los Angeles Chargers are well-prepared for the start of free agency next week.
They already had plenty of salary cap space, and now after releasing several players on Wednesday, they have nearly a whopping $99 million to work with. Los Angeles has a golden opportunity to not only get several impact starters, bad add quality depth throughout its roster.
The free agent legal tampering period begins on Monday, which means teams can agree to contracts with free agent players, but those deals don’t become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 11. The Chargers will likely strike early, especially if they go after some big names.
Los Angeles Chargers Could Target Free Agent C Tyler Linderbaum
Tyler Linderbaum
GettyBaltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum.
The folks over at Pro Football Focus recently named the teams they believe will be big spenders during free agency, and the moves they could make. PFF identified the Chargers as one of those teams, and linked them to Linderbaum.
“One intriguing option could be center Tyler Linderbaum, who has spent his career up to this point playing for Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, in Baltimore. The Chargers should be firmly in the mix for the Iowa product, arguably the top offensive lineman available in free agency. Linderbaum has ranked among the five highest-graded centers in the NFL in each of the past two seasons, and his 83.7 PFF run-blocking grade ranked fourth among centers in 2025.”
Adding Linderbaum makes all the sense in the world for Los Angeles, and would be the perfect first step at strengthening the offensive line. A first round pick by the Ravens in 2022, Linderbaum has been named to the Pro Bowl in three of his four NFL seasons.
Chargers Could Also Target Free Agent Edge Rusher Trey Hendrickson
PFF went on to explain why Los Angeles could also make a run for Hendrickson.
“Signing Linderbaum would still leave Los Angeles with ample resources to address the defense. With edge defenders Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack both hitting free agency, the Chargers will likely need reinforcements at the position. Given their cap flexibility, they could even pursue one of the premier pass rushers available on the market.
“Trey Hendrickson stands out as PFF’s highest-ranked free agent regardless of position. He has graded among the top 20 edge defenders in each of the past three seasons. While Hendrickson will be 31 entering the 2026 season, the Chargers have already shown a willingness to rely on veteran pass rushers, as evidenced by Mack’s role in recent years.”
A potential concern with the Chargers adding Hendrickson is less about his age or more about scheme fit. Hendrickson has played defensive end in a 4-3 base scheme for his entire NFL career, but new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary runs a 3-4 base scheme, meaning Hendrickson would play outside linebacker.
Hendrickson probably has enough talent and savvy to make the adjustment, and defenses don’t play in base formations much these days, but it’s still a factor to consider. He was limited to seven games in 2025, as he was placed on injured reserve in December with a hip injury. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks in 2024 and finished second in 2023, recording 17.5 each year.