Daniel Popper of The Athletic previously reported that tight end Oronde Gadsden could have a top-tier season thanks to McDaniel. Now, it’s been reported that Tre’ Harris is poised for a bigger role, and that Ladd McConkey could “have a bounce-back season in [Mike] McDaniel’s offense.”

With the possible departure of Keenan Allen, Harris could slide into that role, while also opening quite a lot of options for McConkey. Per Popper, “I can see McDaniel maximizing McConkey’s shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability on some of these same concepts.”

Mike McDaniel is creating plenty of hype

McDaniel’s arrival is creating quite the buzz inside the Chargers building. The fact is Justin Herbert has always been talented but hasn’t had the help needed to succeed. Now, with McDaniel, he could have two weapons develop into top-tier wide receivers.

McConkey has shown he could be a WR1. And for Harris, he is a second-round pick, so he has talent and there are expectations about him. McDaniel can help this offense as a whole. He must deliver on this expectations.

The Chargers are a boom-or-bust team

Now, the Chargers have the talent, the head coach, the quarterback, the offensive coordinator, and the prospects to win it all. If they don’t succeed this year, plenty of doubts and criticism will be over the franchise.

While the injury itself hasn’t been revealed, Fanatics reported that it is a minor one. Hence, there shouldn’t be a long time of recovery, but now the Chargers must face the scare and do their respective tests to see what’s up with the safety.

James is one of the best players on the Chargers roster, and is one of the best safeties in the NFL. However, he’s known to miss a couple of games every season for injuries. However, he is a very durable player and a captain.

Harrison Smith will replace James

The Fanatics Football Classic will continue and 6x Pro Bowler Harrison Smith will step in for the team known as Wildcats FFC. Smith hasn’t decided if he will retire or not, but after 15 NFL seasons, the end is nearer every single day that passes.

In fact, the Vikings released him in March 11th. Hence, the status of Smith is up in the air, except in the flag football event. Harrison, if he decides to come back, will be a cheap option for any team needing a safety.

The Chargers defense is old but productive

Going back to the Chargers, they have a strong defense, though a very experienced one. For instance, they re-signed Khalil Mack. They also have names like Denzel Perryman as well. It’s a very well-balanced defense that can produce at a high level.

Popper not only assured that Mitchell is a great fit for the Chargers, but also that the “acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive” under the McDaniel scheme. Mitchell’s skill set compares to what McDaniel had in Miami with De’Von Achane, albeit with far lesser production.

Still, Mitchell had 341 yards averaging a whopping 5.8 yards per carry. Achane averaged a 5.7 yards per attempt, which led the NFL in players with more than 6.25 rushes per game. Hence, now they have an explosive player ready to roll.

Mitchell will be RB2 though

Despite all the buzz around his signing, it’s still expected that Mitchell will serve as the second back on the team, with Omarion Hampton carrying the bigger workload. Hampton is a more physical, straight runner than Mitchell.

Hampton is a more complete, high-volume back. Mitchell will be used as a specialized, change-of-pace weapon. Now, he might thrive and excel at that role, which is what Popper reported. The running game could be a massive unit for the Chargers.

The Chargers coaching staff is a rush-loving crew

Jim Harbaugh loves a good running game. Mike McDaniel is a sucker for a good running game. Hence, look at it now. Two running backs, two different skill sets, and two masterminds when it comes to running the football.

There’s also plenty of hype on Oronde Gadsden, the tight end. However, the real evolution in this offense will be how the running game helps unleash Justin Herbert. The quarterback could have plenty of help if the running backs do their job.

Per Popper’s report, the signing of tight end Charlie Kolar “will allow Oronde Gadsden to play in a role that maximizes the 2025 fifth-round pick’s receiving skill set.” That is great news for Justin Herbert, who found an unexpected weapon in the tight end last season.

Gadsden came out of nowhere and produced 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Now, Mike McDaniel and his highly-productive scheme could make Gadsden one of the best tight ends in football, at least in the receiving aspect of it.

McDaniel has made wonders with other tight ends

McDaniel had underwhelming tight ends his first two years as the Dolphins head coach, but once he got Jonnu Smith, things changed. In the 2024 season, Smith had 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 88 receptions.

McDaniel was also the 49ers offensive coordinator, where he had George Kittle. Now, Kittle is a superstar and he would arguably deliver in every scheme imaginable. Still, McDaniel’s scheme follows the Shanahan scheme, which means tight ends are not only important, but key to success.

The Chargers are not done

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that the Chargers were keeping tabs on AJ Brown. While those rumors have dimmed, the fact is that this means the Chargers are in the market, active. After all, they have money to spend.

The Chargers have $59.5 million in cap space, which is the second-highest in the NFL this season. They have brought offensive players in Tyler Biadasz, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold, and Charlie Kolar. They brought four names in defense, and plenty more will be spent.

The new agreement is reportedly worth up to $6.75 million for the 2026 season. This move provides the Chargers with veteran insurance behind Herbert, especially after Lance showed flashes of his potential during the 2025 preseason and his lone regular-season start against the Denver Broncos.

With this latest contract, many fans are looking back at the financial trajectory of a player who has struggled to find a permanent starting role. Despite the “bust” labels frequently used by critics, Lance has managed to navigate the NFL’s financial landscape with incredible success since being drafted in 2021.

How much money has Trey Lance earned in the NFL?

By the time his new contract with the Chargers concludes, Trey Lance will have amassed over $42 million in career earnings. The foundation of his wealth was his fully guaranteed rookie contract with the San Francisco 49ers, which paid out approximately $34.1 million—including a massive $22.1 million signing bonus received on day one.

Following his stints in San Francisco and Dallas, Lance signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in 2025 worth roughly $2 million. His career cash flow entering this offseason stood at approximately $36.1 million, a figure that now jumps significantly with his latest $6.75 million commitment from the Los Angeles front office.

While his career statistics—including just six starts and five passing touchdowns—may not reflect his draft pedigree, his earnings certainly do. Lance remains one of the highest-paid backups in the league, and if he performs well in 2026, he could finally position himself for a more lucrative starting opportunity when he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027.

Can Trey Lance become the starting quarterback for the Chargers?

No, Trey Lance does not have a realistic chance to start for the Chargers in the 2026 season. He will serve as Justin Herbert’s backup and, unless the starter gets injured, he will remain as the QB2 for the entire campaign.

Jim Harbaugh has been very clear that he likes what he sees in Lance. The quarterback became a free agent this offseason, yet the head coach was very interested in the club re-signing him for one more year.

At the center of the picture is quarterback Justin Herbert and a roster built around several high-profile contracts. Those deals shape the team’s long-term financial structure while leaving the front office with key decisions still looming.

Numbers alone rarely tell the whole story in the NFL. Between roster planning, potential restructures and the rhythm of free agency, their salary cap outlook could quietly influence how Los Angeles approaches a pivotal offseason.

How much is the Chargers’ cap space in 2026?

The Los Angeles Chargers are projected to have about $99.5 million in available cap space for the 2026 season, the highest total in the NFL under the offseason Top-51 accounting rule, according to data from Spotrac.

The projection is based on an adjusted team salary cap of roughly $303.3 million, which includes the league’s estimated cap for 2026—around $301.2 million—plus rollover space from the previous season and minor adjustments.

After accounting for their top 51 contracts and existing financial obligations, the franchise still retains nearly $100 million in flexibility. A major portion of the Chargers’ cap structure revolves around franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

His contract carries a cap hit of about $46.3 million in 2026, the largest on the roster and roughly 15% of the team’s total cap allocation. Other significant charges include safety Derwin James at approximately $24.6 million and left tackle Rashawn Slater at $23.8 million, reflecting the team’s investment in cornerstone players on both sides of the ball.

Despite those sizable contracts, their books remain relatively clean. Spotrac estimates the team will carry around $5.5 million in dead money, a modest figure compared to many NFL teams that often exceed $20–30 million in dead cap.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the Chargers are “keeping tabs on the situation” of AJ Brown. This would bring one of the most deadly weapons in the NFL to a team in desperate need to give elite QB Justin Herbert a chance to win.

While the Chargers have Ladd McConkey, the fact is there is not a receiver with the quality of Brown on the roster. Keenan Allen is past his prime, and while he wants to remain with the Chargers, he is an unrestricted free agent. Quentin Johnston is a deep threat, but he also is a WR2 at best.

Justin Herbert would have a field day throwing to Brown

Herbert has one of the best arms in football. Having a weapon like Brown would unlock a new level in his game, especially considering Mike McDaniel is the new offensive coordinator of the team.

Brown is elite at every single level of the field, and Herbert could find him in every way possible. Whether it’s in the middle of the field, outside the numbers, or a simple screen pass, Brown will deliver. While the price is heavy, the Chargers must feel like this opportunity is once in a lifetime.

What’s AJ Brown’s contract?

Brown is in the middle of a three-year, $96 million contract extension. Hence, he is under contract until 2029. So, if the Chargers trade for him, they don’t have to worry about extensions anytime soon.

However, as of right now, his contract contains four void years (2030-2033), which entail a massive $53.5 million cap charge in 2030. Hence, the Chargers would likely try to reestructure the contract. Still, that’s only if they land the services of the wideout.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Chargers are hiring Adam Gase as passing game coordinator. This means he will work very closely with Justin Herbert. Gase was last seen coaching the New York Jets in the NFL.

After that, it’s been a five-year hiatus for a coach that seemed like the NFL passed him over. While Mike McDaniel will oversee all things offense with head coach Jim Harbaugh, having someone like Gase might be troublesome if he is indeed outdated with the current NFL landscape.

Gase has a very bad reputation

Gase rose to prominence in the NFL thanks to being the Broncos OC during the Peyton Manning days. That granted him the Dolphins HC position from 2016 to 2017. He had a 23-25 record with the Dolphins, but that didn’t stop the Jets from hiring as the head coach too. It was a disaster, even if he had now-Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold under center. He ended up with a 9-23 record with the Jets. Overall, his HC record is 32-48 and no one saw him since then.

Since 2024, Gase was a strategic advisor for the football intelligence, technology, and media company The 33rd Team alongside Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. Hence, Gase has been watching the NFL from outside of the bubble. It’s a really weird hire by the Chargers.

The Chargers have a lot of pressure on their shoulders

The Chargers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2018 season. After that, they’ve missed four playoff trips and have also lost three times in the Wild Card Round. At first, they changed the coach to bring back Jim Harbaugh. Now, they changed the OC and brought the mastermind Mike McDaniel to call plays. Those two paired with an elite talent like Justin Herbert makes this offense a force to be reckoned with.

As reported by CBS‘ Matt Zenitz, the Chargers are on the verge of hiring an offensive assistant from the Miami Dolphins for the coming season. “It’s considered a strong possibility the Chargers hire Dolphins offensive assistant Max McCaffrey, potentially as running backs coach,” Zenitz wrote on his X account.

With McDaniel in the coaching staff, the Chargers are optimistic about their future, and the potential addition of McCaffrey could significantly enhance their aspirations. McDaniel and McCaffrey previously worked together in Miami, where their collaboration held promise despite not achieving standout results.

Reflecting on his time with the Dolphins, McDaniel discussed the challenges he faced after Tua Tagovailoa’s injury. Now with the Chargers, he is eager to demonstrate why he is considered one of the NFL’s premier coaches.

McCaffrey’s NFL background

After retiring as a player, McCaffrey began his coaching career at the University of Northern Colorado as a wide receivers coach in 2020. A year later, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, and in 2023, he joined the Dolphins as an offensive assistant.

Having held multiple roles within coaching staffs, McCaffrey could be a valuable addition for the Chargers, a team that failed to reach its potential during the regular season. Their loss to the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round—one of the eventual Super Bowl LX contenders—highlighted the need for strategic reinforcement.

As one of the three McCaffrey brothers, Max’s potential move to the Chargers is generating buzz. His arrival could play a crucial role in building a formidable coaching staff as the team gears up to compete in a season that will crown a new defending champion.

The Dolphins fired McDaniel after four seasons as head coach, a stretch that included early promise but inconsistent results. He now joins the Chargers’ coaching staff under head coach Jim Harbaugh, taking on a new role as he looks to rebuild his reputation in a familiar offensive-minded position.

During his introductory press conference, McDaniel addressed how Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion significantly impacted the Dolphins’ offensive production in 2024. The quarterback missed a substantial portion of the season due to injury and struggled to return to peak form during the 2025 NFL campaign.

“Football is a humbling game, regardless of how good you are as a coach,” McDaniel said. “We dealt with injury issues with Tua the previous year, and it really brought into focus how critical the quarterback position is to your overall effectiveness, both as a coach and as a team.”

McDaniel explained that balancing responsibilities as a head coach while also calling plays narrowed his perspective. He noted that the challenges forced him to reevaluate his approach and ultimately sharpened his focus on offensive execution, something he believes will benefit him in Los Angeles.

How the situation was handled in Miami between Tua and McDaniel

Without Tagovailoa, Miami went 1–3, then dropped his first two games after his return by a combined four points. The Dolphins later found momentum, winning five of their next seven games, before Tagovailoa was sidelined again for the final two contests, one win and one loss, due to a hip injury.

McDaniel eventually benched Tagovailoa during the final three games of the 2025 season after the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention. Miami, which reached the wild-card round in each of McDaniel’s first two seasons, finished second in the AFC East at 8–9 in 2024 and slipped to third place in 2025 with a 7–10 record, a downturn that ultimately sealed his dismissal.

Although the former Miami Dolphins coach interviewed with several teams—not just for coordinator roles but also for head coaching positions—McDaniel ultimately expressed great enthusiasm for the Chargers’ offer, eager to work not only with Jim Harbaugh but also with Justin Herbert.

“He was in high spirits and just excited about attacking something,” McDaniel said via NFL.com. “You lose in the playoffs in the first round, it’s a lot of work that you feel kind of like you have an empty stomach. So that hunger, I could hear in his voice. He was excited to start a new chapter, and to really tackle the process of the offseason to be our best versions of ourselves come next fall.

“So it was enthusiastic. I was in a room talking with a really loud, inside voice out of passion, and I think he recognized that we were both geeked for the future and the possibilities that it brings.”

McDaniel’s experience as a West Coast OC

Mike McDaniel was the tactical engine behind the 49ers’ dominant ground game before taking over as Offensive Coordinator in 2021. During his five-year tenure in San Francisco, he transformed a revolving door of running backs into a top-tier unit, helping the team rank 7th in total offense and reach the NFC Championship in his final season.

Known for weaponizing Deebo Samuel in the ‘wide-back’ role, McDaniel’s creative play-design and run-game expertise became the blueprint for the 49ers’ offensive identity.

Maximizing Herbert’s stats

Despite a solid individual campaign in 2025, Justin Herbert and the Chargers are looking for a spark to elevate their offensive ceiling. Herbert finished the season with 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, posting a 60.7 QBR (94.1 passer rating) while navigating a run-heavy scheme.

With the high-profile arrival of Mike McDaniel as the new Offensive Coordinator, the goal is to modernize the playbook and maximize Herbert’s elite arm talent. McDaniel, known for his creative play-design and success in Miami and San Francisco, is expected to refine Herbert’s efficiency and turn those numbers into a more explosive, top-tier offense for the 2026 season.