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Chargers | Praise Olatoke financials Wed Jun 19, 03:11 PM
Updating a previous report, free-agent WR Praise Olatoke (Ohio State) signed a three-year contract worth $2.83 million with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday, June 18.
Footballguys view: Olatoke is 6'2" 205, and he has been clocked at 10.27 in the 100 meter dash. Olatoke also ran a 4.36 40 at the International Pathway Program (IPP) combine earlier this year. He has very little football experience, coming over from Nigeria to attend Ohio State, but he did play some club football. He's part of the IPP and won't count against the team's 90 man roster limit. |
Updating a previous report, free-agent S Tony Jefferson (Giants) signed a one-year contract worth $1.21 million with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday, June 18.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers second-round draft choice WR Ladd McConkey agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the Chargers Monday, June 17. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is the most guaranteed money ever given to 34th overall pick.
Footballguys view: As noted in a previous item, at least one local observer reports McConkey displayed the most potential throughout the offseason program. QB Justin Herbert pointed to McConkey's precise route running and sudden quickness in tight spaces as qualities that would appeal to any quarterback. McConkey's progress as he establishes a role will be worth watching closely when training camp opens. |
The Chargers parted ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in March because of salary-cap issues, leaving Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston atop the depth chart. They drafted Ladd McConkey in the second round. McConkey displayed the most potential throughout the offseason program, his precise route running and sudden quickness in tight spaces the sort of qualities that would appeal to any quarterback.
Footballguys view: Those qualities definitely appeal to Justin Herbert. "It's like he's been a four- or five-year vet," Herbert told the Times. "He understands the game. He understands leverage. He's a smart player, and he's very athletic. I'm really looking forward to getting him the ball." In addition to McConkey, the Chargers drafted wideouts Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson in the seventh. Then they signed veteran D.J. Chark in free agency. McConkey is versatile enough to line up inside or outside, but local observers believe he's ready to jump in right away and contribute in the slot. |
Free-agent S Tony Jefferson (Giants), who announced his retirement before the start of the 2023 season, reportedly agreed to terms on an undisclosed contract with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, June 14, after impressing the team during minicamp.
Link to storyFree-agent WR Praise Olatoke (Ohio State) - a former All-Big team first-team sprinter who is part of the NFL's International Pathway Program - signed an undisclosed contract with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, June 14.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers RB Gus Edwards (undisclosed) 'has been on a really good track' and there is a 'high possibility' he will be ready for the start of training camp, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Footballguys view: Edwards could lead the charge (pun intended) for the offense this year. Harbaugh loves to run the ball early and often, so Edwards and JK Dobbins have an opportunity to do what they were supposed to do in Baltimore. We see a healthy Edwards as an RB2 or flex option for Fantasy GMs out there. |
Los Angeles Chargers LB Chris Rumph II (undisclosed) did individual drills on Wednesday, June 12, for the first time this spring. Rumph has been working through an unspecified injury, per head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers DB Tarheeb Still has been a standout defensive player thus far, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, who believes that Still can push CB Ja'Sir Taylor for the nickel role with CBs Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton on the outside.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers TE Donald Parham (undisclosed) and LB Junior Colson (undisclosed) are dealing with injuries, but neither injury is believed to be serious.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers OT Rashawn Slater, OG Zion Johnson, C Bradley Bozeman, OT Trey Pipkins and OT Joe Alt - from left to right - have 'really separated themselves' and will enter training camp as the likely starters up front, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Footballguys view: This offensive line has three recent first round picks and could serve the Harbaugh/Roman offense for a long time. It is a good group for a run first approach and could be part of the story of how this offense surprises us and creates more fantasy value than expected this season. |
Los Angeles Chargers first-round draft choice OT Joe Alt signed a four-year contract with the Chargers Monday, June 10, worth $33.2 million. The deal also includes a fifth-year option.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers OT Joe Alt took all of the reps as the first-team right tackle on Tuesday, June 4. Alt had rotated in during the two previous open OTAs.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers C Corey Linsley was released on Wednesday, June 5.
Link to storyFree-agent S Tony Jefferson (Giants) is scheduled to participate in the Los Angeles Chargers upcoming minicamp on a tryout basis, according to a source.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers LB Junior Colson (undisclosed) worked on a side field during the voluntary workout Wednesday, May 29.
Footballguys view: Colson walked into the facility with trainers during OTA's last week, but the nature of the issue is not known. He was at least able to participate in the finishing period of the practice, including sled pulls. Colson played with Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and has a chance to be the green dot linebacker in the defense sooner than later. |
Los Angeles Chargers RBs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were not on the practice field for the team's OTAs on Wednesday, May 29.
Footballguys view: Sixth round pick Kimani Vidal should have a chance to shine and get the team's attention in OTAs with the top two backs sidelined. Isaiah Spiller, Elijah Dotson, and Jaret Patterson also got work with the first team. This is a wide open situation on a team that wants to run the ball as often as they can. |
Free-agent OT Alex Leatherwood (Bears) signed an undisclosed contract with the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, May 29.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey was working with the first-team offense as the primary slot receiver at organized team activities this week, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic on Monday, May 20.
Footballguys view: McConkey is one of our favorite receivers in this draft class, and there is some Cooper Kupp to his game. The Chargers moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason. That means Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, and McConkey will compete in training camp to establish a pecking order. |
Los Angeles Chargers OT Tyler X. Smith was waived Thursday, May 23.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers LB Junior Colson (undisclosed) was helped off the field by the training staff on Monday, May 20, about 40 minutes into the first day of OTAs.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston is a 'great worker' and a player that the team believes is 'going to launch' in 2024, according to general manager Joe Hortiz on The Up & Adams podcast on Wednesday, May 15.'Quentin was a player we liked in Baltimore as well last year - a player that I liked. When you look at him, when he was coming out of college, he was an elite size/speed athlete. And you saw some rawness to his game, but you also saw the ability, for as big as he is, (6-foot-3), I think, and 220 pounds, you watch him drop his weight, getting in and out of breaks, come to balance at the top of the route, get out quickly. He can do some rare things for a player his size. (Coach) Jim (Harbaugh) was on the other sideline in one of his better games (in college), and so we've all seen it. We believe in it. He's a great kid, he's a great worker. Everyone here has a high opinion of him. I believe he's really going to launch. I really do. His skill set is great. We're (going to) work with him, make him better and better,' Hortiz told Adams.
Footballguys view: Johnston has a ton of speed, and he's dangerous after the catch. However, we haven't quite seen his full potential in the pros. The Chargers moved on from both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, so there's going to be more pressure on Johnston to perform. |
Los Angeles Chargers fourth-round draft choice DL Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) signed a four-year contract on Thursday, May 16. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to storyNew Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark says the opportunity to play with quarterback Justin Herbert was a "big-time" attraction when he was weighing his offers in free agency. "He's a Top 5 QB in this league," Chark said of Herbert. "The way he prepares, seeing the way he works, catching passes from him. The timing has been great. Playing with a guy like that -- I've played with many QBs in my career, so being able to play with an elite guy is definitely something that I'm excited to do. I feel like he can help me in a lot of different ways."
Footballguys view: Chark thinks his talents as a deep threat are a perfect fit for Herbert's arm strength. "Justin is the type of quarterback who elevates the guys around him," Chark added. The big question, of course, is how much throwing the Herbert and the Chargers will do under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who has focused on the ground game in previous stops. That said, the Chargers have made a significant change at wide receiver this offseason with the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Getting Chark and Herbert on the same page quickly would greatly boost the Chargers' offense. |
Los Angeles Chargers LB Brevin Allen was waived on Tuesday, May 14.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent DL Chris Collins (Minnesota) is signing an undisclosed contract with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, May 13, per source.
Link to storyFree-agent DE Bud Dupree (Falcons) agreed to a two-year deal worth $6 million with a total value of $10 million with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to sources Saturday, May 11.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers third-round draft choice LB Junior Colson (Michigan), fifth-round draft choice DB Tarheeb Still (Maryland), fifth-round draft choice DB Cam Hart (Notre Dame), sixth-round draft choice RB Kimani Vidal (Troy), seventh-round draft choice WR Brenden Rice (USC) and seventh-round draft choice WR Cornelius Johnson (Michigan) signed four-year contracts on Friday, May 10. Terms of the deals were not immediately disclosed.
Footballguys view: Rice and Johnson are both big downfield options who will try to win playing time as an outside receiver for the Chargers. Vidal has a chance to play a big role in the backfield with only Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in his way. The Chargers are basically a rebuilding team right now, so these third day draft picks should be given a chance to compete and play a role for the team this year. |
Los Angeles Chargers WR Brenden Rice has 'an opportunity to carve out a role for himself early on,' in the opinion of Chargers.com's Eric Smith, who notes that while there's a crowded receiver room for the Chargers, multiple spots along the depth chart are up for grabs.
Footballguys view: Rice should have been drafted much higher, or at least that's what many thought before the draft. Instead, Jerry Rice's son fell to the seventh round where he could prove to be a tremendous value pick for the Chargers. Rice can stretch the field, and he can make circus catches seem routine. We'll see if he can work his way up the depth chart in training camp and become a favorite target of QB Justin Herbert. |
Free-agent LB Bud Dupree (Falcons) recently concluded a visit with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to a source. Dupree has also reportedly been talking with two of his former teams - the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers - as well.
Link to storyUpdating a previous report, free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is now meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday, May 7, per source.
Link to storyFree-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs) is scheduled to visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, May 6, per source.
Footballguys view: The Chargers, who drafted three wideouts this offseason to remake the position group after Keenan Allen and Mike Williams' departures, also signed D.J. Chark last week. So, the interest in Valdes-Scantling indicates an ongoing search for veteran depth behind a young, unproven top-three at the position: Rookie Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and second-year man Quentin Johnston. It's worth noting that Valdes-Scantling has struggled with drops throughout his career, as Johnston did during his rookie campaign. |
Free-agent WR DJ Chark Jr. (Panthers) has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, according to sources.
Footballguys view: Chark is still a speed merchant who can take the top off the defense. The Chargers are going to run the heck out of the ball this year, and that should set up play-action opportunities for downfield strikes. Chark has 'what the heck' flex appeal in that role, and he could have a higher upside given the currently unknown pecking order. If someone like Quentin Johnston doesn't come through with more consistent play, Chark could be the one who elevates his game. |
Los Angeles Chargers OT Rashawn Slater had his fifth-year team option for 2025 worth $13.4 million exercised on Thursday, May 2.
Link to storyFree-agent WR Tyler Boyd (Bengals) met with this Los Angeles Chargers this week, according to a source.
Footballguys view: The Steelers, Chiefs, and Jets were all reportedly interested in the veteran slot receiver this offseason. He hasn't signed anywhere yet, but a team like the Chargers could use him. They did select Georgia WR Ladd McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, but Boyd could provide more veteran depth. Currently, they have Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston as their top two receivers. |
Undrafted free-agent WR Jaylen Johnson (East Carolina) agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday, April 27, according to a source. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent WR Leon Johnson III (Oklahoma State) agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday, April 27. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent WR Jaelen Gill (Fresno State) agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday, April 27. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent QB Casey Bauman (Montana State) agreed to terms on a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, April 27. The deal includes a $10,000 bonus.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent TE Luke Benson (Georgia Tech) agreed to terms on a contract Saturday, April 27. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent TE Zach Heins (South Dakota State) agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, April 27, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Link to storyUSC WR Brenden Rice was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 225th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyTroy RB Kimani Vidal was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 181st overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyThe Los Angeles Chargers exercised the 2025 fifth-year option on OT Rashawn Slater Saturday, April 27, according to a source.
Link to storyGeorgia WR Ladd McConkey was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyLos Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert was pursued by the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, but trade attempts were met with 'a flat no,' league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Link to storyNotre Dame OT Joe Alt was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to storyNotre Dame OT Joe Alt has the interest of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Link to storyAlabama OT JC Latham could be a target for the Los Angeles Chargers if they decide to trade down in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, sources told SI.com's Albert Breer
Link to storyFree-agent WR DJ Chark Jr. (Panthers) visited the Los Angeles Chargers Thursday, April 18.
Link to story