In January, the Los Angeles Chargers made an interesting hire. Former Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was hired as offensive coordinator, with Jim Harbaugh hoping to modernize the offense after two seasons under Greg Roman. Some of the signings already have his name attached.
Cole Strange To Reunite With Mike McDaniel on the Los Angeles Chargers
On Monday night, it was revealed that the Chargers reached a two-year agreement with Cole Strange, who played for the Miami Dolphins last season. He quickly became a starter for Miami after joining in September, and McDaniel clearly was impressed by what he saw.
The Chargers had a sputtering offensive line in 2025, and even with the returns of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, they need to boost the interior. Signing Strange is the second move in this regard during free agency.
Source: Former Dolphins OG Cole Strange reached agreement today on a two-year, $13 million deal with the Chargers, where he now will be reunited with his former head coach Mike McDaniel in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/0NCKCcyQM4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2026
The offensive line was a big problem for Los Angeles in 2025. PFSN’s OL Impact Metric ranked the unit No. 30, with only the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns offering worse protection. The absences of Slater and Alt, the unit’s two best players, loomed large.
However, Strange is not someone with many suitors on the market. The New England Patriots, who made him a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, released him prior to the season. The Cleveland Browns also had him on the roster, but he remained for less than two weeks. Clearly, McDaniel was impressed by his Miami stint.
Los Angeles will bet that continuity and the returns of Slater and Alt could offer better protection for Justin Herbert. The Chargers signed center Tyler Biadasz right before the start of free agency, while Zion Johnson left in free agency. Bradley Bozeman retired from the league.
The Chargers allowed 60 sacks in 2025. Herbert seemed to be running for his life in many moments, and the pressure hurt his performance. The quarterback’s health was a topic of discussion for most of the season, and investing in improvements was a huge need.
We’ll see if Los Angeles can compete in the AFC West. But with McDaniel calling the plays and Herbert as their quarterback, the Chargers will always be dangerous. The offensive line, however, can’t be a problem for one more year.
