There’s a clear priority for the Los Angeles Chargers in the next few months. Justin Herbert needs to be better protected, with more time in the pocket and fewer hits. This could lead to some splashy moves in free agency as the Chargers look to close the gap in the division.
Chargers Projected To Pursue Star Center in Free Agency
The 2025 season was a disappointment for the Los Angeles Chargers. What started as a great year, with three straight division wins, ended in a Wild Card Round loss.
Most of the blame can be assigned to the offensive line, which did an horrendous job for most of the year.
The group suffered injuries, but that doesn’t paint the full picture. The interior was a mess, and Justin Herbert was badly affected by 60 sacks, the 2nd-highest mark in the league.
A projection made by CBS Sports has the team investing heavily to address the issue, with Tyler Linderbaum from the Baltimore Ravens arriving as a free agent.
“The Chargers have huge needs on the interior of the offensive line, and Linderbaum is the best center on the market. If the Ravens don’t retain him before he hits free agency, L.A. should run to the front of the line to be the team that brings him in.”
Problems with the offensive line derailed the Chargers’ season. Despite having names like Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, and Omarion Hampton, the offense finished No. 27 in our PFSN Offense Impact Metric.
There was real concern about the number of hits Herbert took, who was sacked six times during their playoff loss against the New England Patriots.
The line should be better in 2026 based on the returns of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt alone. Still, the interior was a major concern. Linderbaum, one of the top prospects available in free agency, would represent a massive upgrade on Bradley Bozeman, the 2025 starter who announced his retirement during the week.
Upgrades would still be required at the guard position. However, the single addition of Linderbaum would make Herbert’s life much easier.
Jim Harbaugh prefers to base his offense on the running game, and Linderbaum, an athletic center who can reach the second level, would do a great job to improve the running game.
The only impediment might be his own team. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta revealed during the NFL Combine that they made a “market-setting offer” to keep him on the roster before reaching free agency. If Linderbaum stays, there won’t be many center options at the same level for Los Angeles.
