The Chargers have bolstered the run game early in free agency.

With Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel having plenty of previous success on the ground as a playcaller, there's already a ton of excitement about how that element of the Bolts offense can look.

Add in a couple of early free-agent additions by the Chargers, and that excitement is deserved at this point in the offseason.

The Chargers signed center Tyler Biadasz last week and also agreed to terms with tight end Charlie Kolar, who is one of the best blockers at his position in the NFL.

And the signing of Kolar, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, was one of The Athletic Ted Nguyen's best free agent fits of the early portion for the impact it should have in McDaniel's run game.

It's a perfect pairing with the tight end now in Los Angeles, according to Nguyen.

Nguyen wrote:

One reason offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was hired was to bolster a Chargers run game that finished 15th in rushing success rate and 14th in explosive run rate. In addition to getting their two starting tackles back from season-ending injuries, the Chargers added center Tyler Biadasz and fullback Alec Ingold. The final step to ensuring the outside zone run works is a strong blocking tight end, and they got exactly that with Charlie Kolar.

Kolar ranked sixth with a run-blocking grade of 71.5 among tight ends with at least 400 snaps in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus.

Aside from the boost his athleticism will contribute to the ground game this upcoming season, another factor is what Kolar's presence does to another important member of the tight end room.

Nguyen points to Oronde Gadsden, who showed great flashes in the pass game, as someone else who will benefit greatly now with a clearer role in the room.

With bigger personnel on the field, Gadsden could be lethal at keeping defenses on their heels.

Nguyen wrote:

The Chargers have second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden Jr., who showed a lot of promise as an explosive pass catcher, but Kolar gives them a strong point-of-attack blocker who will likely start in their 21 personnel packages (two backs, one tight end, two receivers). They'll also have the ability to get into 12 personnel and create mismatches for Gadsden with play-action. Kolar was the final piece in the Chargers' run game rebuild. I'd be shocked if they weren't top-10 in rushing efficiency and explosiveness next season, something Justin Herbert has never had.

Another winner of the Chargers potential bump in the run game? Omarion Hampton.

The Chargers second-year running back has already been a name with a lot of buzz heading into this season with McDaniel, with some believing he is poised for a breakout season.

And the Bolts recent additions led to ESPN's Bill Barnwell naming Hampton as one of the ‘winners’ of free agency so far because of what it could mean for him in Year 2.

Barnwell wrote:

Things were already looking up for the second year back when the Chargers hired Mike McDaniel — one of the league's most innovative and impactful run-game designers -- as their new offensive coordinator. They improved even more over the weekend, when general manager Joe Hortiz replaced retired center Bradley Bozeman with the aforementioned Biadasz, who joined on a three-year pact. Guard Cole Strange, who played in Miami last season, also joined as guard depth. And by Monday evening, things had gotten even better for Hampton, who landed two new valuable teammates beyond the offensive line to help clear out holes…

We're going to see a shift in how the Chargers play offense in 2026. Last season, Jim Harbaugh's team lined up with three or more wideouts on the field nearly 67% of the time, the seventh-highest rate in the league. Oronde Gadsden was also a move tight end who played more like a big wide receiver than a traditional tight end, making those groupings even more wideout heavy.

A much-improved run game could mean big things for the Chargers offense in 2026.