This page lists all the 2026 NFL Signings for the Los Angeles Chargers. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the Signings. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the Signings, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL Signings here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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🏈 2026 NFL Free Agent Signing Grades by Team (Synced 3.23.26)
- Total Signings: 11
- Average Grade: B- (82.3)
March 2026 – Signings
Chargers re-sign QB Trey Lance (1 year, $6.75 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/14/2026
Average backup quarterbacks cost about $5-6 million per year, so by that measure, Trey Lance could be considered an overpay. Lance hasn’t proven that he’s an average-level backup, so it could be argued that he shouldn’t have gotten so much money.
Then again, Lance still possesses plenty of upside. He was the No. 3 overall pick five years ago for a reason. Given how many former busts have thrived, it’s not impossible that Lance could eventually meet expectations and make something of his career, so I’m going to grade this signing favorably.
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Chargers sign DT Dalvin Tomlinson (1 year, $7.5 million): C+ Grade
signed on 3/13/2026
Dalvin Tomlinson signed with the Cardinals recently, but he didn’t last very long. He played just one season in Arizona and was utterly awful. Given how bad he was, it’s surprising that the Chargers signed him to a contract worth $7.5 million in 2026.
The Chargers are obviously banking on Tomlinson reverting to pre-2025 form. Tomlinson wasn’t nearly as bad in 2024, so it’s possible he could rebound and fix the team’s issues at defensive tackle. At 32, Tomlinson isn’t exactly ancient, but then again, maybe he’s just done. Either way, the Chargers should’ve been able to acquire him on a cheaper deal.
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Chargers sign RB Keaton Mitchell (2 years, $9.3 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/12/2026
The Chargers had massive injury issues on offense last year. Everyone remembers their top two tackles being sidelined, but their top two running backs were also out for a chunk of the season. With Najee Harris being a big question mark, it made sense for the Chargers to obtain a better backup behind Omarion Hampton so they wouldn’t have to rely on Kimani Vidal again.
Keaton Mitchell is an electric back who can take it the distance whenever he touches the ball. He’s a nice signing at this cheap price.
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Chargers re-sign OT Trey Pipkins (2 years, $10 million): B- Grade
signed on 3/10/2026
Even though the Chargers just gave Trey Pipkins $10 million, they’re hoping that they never see him take the field. Pipkins not playing means that Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will remain on the field, which is the opposite of what transpired last year. Pipkins is an OK insurance policy for either talented tackle, and one is needed, given Slater’s injury history.
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Chargers sign G Cole Strange (2 years, $13 million): D Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
It’s still hard to believe that Cole Strange was once a first-round pick. A hilarious moment was when the Rams were heard saying that they were considering him in the third round.
Strange predictably failed in New England. He was even worse for Miami last year. Injuries forced Strange into starting, and he was anemic. I don’t know why he’s getting anything more than the veteran minimum.
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Chargers re-sign G Trevor Penning (1 year, $4.5 million): B Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
The Chargers made the mistake of using Trevor Penning at tackle after they acquired him at the deadline last year. Of course, they didn’t really have much of a choice because of all their injuries, but still. Penning is a disaster when playing tackle, but he’s been a decent blocker at guard. That’s exactly where the Chargers will need him in 2026 unless there are more injuries to their tackles.
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Chargers sign TE Charlie Kolar (3 years, $24.3 million): B- Grade
signed on 3/9/2026
Everyone knows about Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, but Charlie Kolar was an important member of Baltimore’s offense. Kolar didn’t catch many passes, but he served as one of the top blocking tight ends in the NFL.
I’ve long maintained that blocking tight ends are overpaid, but if a team is going to give one lots of money, it might as well be someone who is one of the best in the league. There’s no doubt that Kolar will improve the Chargers’ offense.
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Chargers sign FB Alec Ingold (2 years, $7.5 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/8/2026
If we were doing SAT analogies, Adam Trautman is to Sean Payton, as Alec Ingold is to Mike McDaniel. The former Dolphins coach loves Ingold, making this the most predictable signing of all time. In one game two years ago, McDaniel gave Ingold, a simple fullback, more targets than Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined.
Despite the odd play-calling, Ingold is actually useful in an offense because he can block well. A contract worth less than $4 million per season is very reasonable, and I like that Ingold won’t have to learn a new offense.
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Chargers re-sign DE Khalil Mack (1 year, $18 million): A Grade
signed on 3/7/2026
We saw how important Khalil Mack was to the Chargers last year. Mack suffered an injury in September, and the defense took a dive after that. Then, Mack returned after five weeks, and the Chargers’ stop unit was far better from that point onward.
Mack is 35, but he’s still a ferocious pass rusher. Age is an issue, but this 1-year contract mitigates that. If Mack regresses, the Chargers won’t be punished for the long haul. This mitigated downside makes this a great re-signing.
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Chargers sign C Tyler Biadasz (3 years, $30 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/6/2026
There was speculation that the Chargers were going to sign Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. They decided that they didn’t want to risk Linderbaum not being available for them, so they’ve opted to sign Tyler Biadasz instead.
I like this signing quite a bit. The Chargers had severe offensive line issues last season, and not just as a result of their two tackles being injured. Center was a big issue for them, so Biadasz is a big upgrade. Biadasz is not the amazing center Linderbaum is, but he’s a solid player.
This seems like a bit of an overpay, considering that the Redskins just cut him, but I like that this gives the Chargers a better chance of finally not failing in the playoffs.
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January 2026 – Signings
Chargers re-sign DT Teair Tart (3 years, $37.5 million): B- Grade
signed on 1/26/2026
Is there a more perfect last name for a defensive tackle than “Tart?” Perhaps Marshmallow. If there’s a defensive tackle named Robert Marshmallow in the NFL Draft, teams need to target him early in the first round.
Tart, true to his name, is a quality run stuffer. He can also get a bit of pressure on the quarterback, though not very much. He’s a decent defensive tackle who can play about 60 percent of the snaps. I like that the Chargers retained him, though $37.5 million over three years seems like a hefty price, especially for a player who has just one year remaining in his 20s. However, I think this signing is fine and shouldn’t be graded poorly because Tart is a quality member of the Chargers’ defensive front.
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