Da'Shawn Hand
Getty
Da'Shawn leaves the Chargers after one season
After his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand will leave the franchise.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo has revealed that Hand will join the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year, $3 million deal. It will be the D-lineman’s third team in three seasons and the fifth of his career.
Mike Garafolo
The #Falcons have agreed to terms with DL Da’Shawn Hand on a one-year, $3 million deal, per The Insiders.
The eight-year veteran heads to Atlanta on a deal negotiated by his agent Sean Kiernan of @AthletesFirst.
Under head coach Jim Harbaugh and former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Hand had one of the better seasons of his career — he also started 13 games for the Bolts in the 2025 season, tying the amount he started in the other seven seasons of his career.
The defender recorded 1.5 sacks (the second-highest of his career after his rookie season) and logged 29 tackles (the second-most in his career) in his only season in Los Angeles.
Known for his run-defending abilities, Da’Shawn Hand recorded five tackles for loss with the Bolts. The Falcons’ defense ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game, with the newest defender likely to be a key rotational piece for Kevin Stefanski’s first season as head coach.
Filling in the Gap
Dalvin Tomlinson
GettyDalvin Tomlinson will play in the City of Angels
Da’Shawn Hand’s departure doesn’t come too far after the Los Angeles Chargers agreed to a deal with a member of the defensive front.
LA signed Dalvin Tomlinson to a one-year, $7.5 million deal, who spent the 2025 season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals organization. Also a run blocker, Tomlinson will fill the position Hand contributed to under Jim Harbaugh.
“As for his fit with the Chargers, look for Tomlinson to bring depth to the defensive tackle room,” Chargers website editorial director Eric Smith wrote. “Tomlinson has mostly been known as a run-stopping defensive tackle in his career as he’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds. But he can also give the Bolts something in the pass rush department, too, with as he does have 20.0 career sacks.”
“Tomlinson is a veteran and steady player who should fit in nicely with the Bolts, especially under the tutelage of Mike Elston…[who] has worked that unit into one of the defense’s most consistent groups in the past two years despite not having star-studded names.”
Da’Shawn Hand played one of the better seasons of football under the Chargers’ coaching staff and could work for Dalvin Tomlinson as well.
Chargers Lose Another Member of 2025 Squad
Tyler Conklin of the Los Angeles Chargers prepares to block for the quarterback.
GettyThe Chargers lost a member of the 2025 offense
Alongside losing Da’Shawn Hand, the Los Angeles Chargers will also lose a member of the offense.
Tight end Tyler Conklin has left the team after his one-year tenure with the team and will sign a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Conklin was lower on the tight end depth chart as Oronde Gadsden and Will Dissly received more playing time. The TE played in 13 games for the Bolts, starting 5, recording 7 catches for 101 receiving yards.
Los Angeles signed Charlie Kolar earlier in free agency and will likely become TE2 under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.