That's a wrap on the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Chargers front office and coaching staff spent the past week in Indianapolis interviewing dozens of prospects while also keeping a close eye on their on-field workouts.
Away from Lucas Oil Stadium, the Bolts front office met with agents to get a gauge on the 2026 free agency market.
With all of that in mind, here are five takeaways about what we learned about the Chargers at the 2026 Combine:
1. Focus on the offensive line
Perhaps the biggest storyline from the Chargers 2025 season was the offensive line.
The group battled extensive injuries but persevered enough that the Bolts won 11 games and made the playoffs.
Now that the offseason is in full swing, the trenches are once again in focus as free agency approaches. The 2026 New League Year begins March 11 at 1 p.m. (PT).
Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said last week on Chargers Weekly that the trenches are among the top priorities for the Chargers.
"Obviously, we need to add to the offensive line. We're frankly thin in terms of numbers there right now," Hortiz said. "That is the plan, that is the goal, comfortable with what's out there in the draft and free agency."
Veteran Bradley Bozeman retired a week ago, which leaves a void in the middle of the Bolts offensive line.
"Tremendous amount of respect for them, appreciation for him and love for him and his family. Congrats to him in his retirement," Hortiz said of Bozeman and his family.
The Chargers could also have other departures up front, too, as Zion Johnson is slated to be a free agent.
Hortiz said Tuesday in Indianapolis that the Chargers will soon have a sense of where Johnson's market stands.
"Yeah, we have a range. Not just Zion, but every player, we tag a guy with a range," Hortiz said. "There's an evaluation and that's what we do. Is it a hard ceiling? No. I don't think you ever place a hard ceiling on a player.
"But you have to pay what you think a player is worth. Or somewhere near that," Hortiz added. "We'll see what happens with Zion, where the market goes, if he gets to the market. We'll stay engaged with him through the process."
Bozeman and Johnson were among the Chargers most durable players in 2025 in terms of snap counts.
But even with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt seemingly ready to return in 2026, the rest of the offensive line group could look different going forward as Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins III, Andre James, Bobby Hart, Austin Deculus and Trevor Penning are all scheduled to be free agents on March 11.
Keep an eye on how the Chargers attack this position group in both free agency and the draft.
2. Salary cap is set
The 2026 NFL salary cap has been set at $301.2 million, a tad lower number than the projected total of $303.5 million.
The 2025 salary cap was $279.2 million, meaning the cap rose by nearly $22 million in the past year.
This means the Chargers are now projected to have around $85.6 million in cap space after the figure was officially set on Friday.
According to Over the Cap, the Chargers rank fourth in available cap space ahead of free agency.
And while that means the Chargers could dip their toes into the external free agency market, Hortiz indicated at both his year-end presser and at the Combine that the Bolts could choose to focus on internal players first.
Now that the Chargers coaching staff is in place, Hortiz said the Bolts will soon get to work on finalizing their free agency plans.
"We've have some internal discussions from a personnel standpoint, obviously bringing on new coaches and letting them get familiar with our players, watching the film," Hortiz said. "It's a little delayed, we probably would've been, we've had some conversations but we would have had a few more.
"We'll really crank when we get back on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, come up with a game plan in terms of who we want to retain, who we want to go after," Hortiz added.
3. Mack and Oweh back?
Speaking of internal free agents...
On the defensive side of the ball, Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are perhaps the two biggest names within that unit.
Mack put up 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 12 games while Oweh posted 7.5 sacks in 12 regular-season games with the Chargers while forming a menacing trio with Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. Oweh then racked up 3.0 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in the Bolts playoff loss in New England.
How does Hortiz plan to approach negotiations with this pair of edge rushers?
"They know we want them back," Hortiz said. "I think when players go into free agency once the season ends, it takes a little bit of time but we'll keep chipping away at it and see if we can get something done with them."
Mack and Oweh would certainly command some money, however, and a potential extension for Tuipulotu would mean even more financial resources in the edge rusher group.
Hortiz said Tuesday that he's fine with that potential scenario.
"I have no problem having a bunch of great edge rushers," Hortiz said.
In regards to Mack and Oweh getting the franchise tag, Hortiz said he foresee that happening. Tags must be applied by Tuesday at 1 p.m. (PT).
"I don't see us tagging anyone right now," Hortiz said.
4. McDaniel's new scheme
The Chargers overhauled their offensive coaching staff in recent weeks, with new Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel now at the helm on this side of the ball.
One thing to look out for in the coming weeks: do the Chargers look for different types of athletes than they have in recent years?
For example, Hortiz described what he was looking for with offensive linemen in McDaniel's scheme.
"More range. Guys who can get to the cutoffs blocks and get out in space," Hortiz said.
Overall, Hortiz said on Chargers Weekly that he still wants tough, hard-nosed players who fit the bill of what he and Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh are looking for on the roster.
"Our offensive scheme will change, not our fundamentals or our philosophy," Hortiz said. "We're still going to run the ball, we're still going to throw the ball, it's just how we run it.
"Players change a little bit, desires change in terms of what you want from those positions. But our scouts, the good thing is they're scouts. They know what players apply to different schemes," Hortiz continued. "We'll attack the positions where we feel like we can upgrade, either through free agency or the draft.
"Mike's really excited about the pieces already in place. It's going to be about adding to it," Hortiz added.
5. O'Leary's impact
Chris O'Leary is the new Chargers Defensive Coordinator, and his biggest task will be keeping the same success the Bolts had in the past two seasons.
Jesse Minter, who was previously the Chargers DC, is now the Ravens Head Coach.
Hortiz spoke publicly for the first time about O'Leary in Indianapolis and raved about his leadership and coaching style, something the Bolts knew a little about since he was the Chargers safeties coach in 2024.
"Well, his plan, his intelligence, his energy. We knew a lot of that from when he was here," Hortiz said. "But his preparedness for the interview. I talked to Chris even before Jesse [Minter] actually got a job. I said, 'Listen, Jesse has got nine interviews and we'd like to interview you if we can get it set up.'
"We had a chance to interview him down in Mobile [at the Senior Bowl]. Just his energy, his creativity, his ideas for going forward. Not just, 'This is what I did,' but this is what he wanted to learn. He just did a great job," Hortiz added.
O'Leary was Western Michigan's DC in 2025 and produced an elite unit in his lone season with the Broncos.
O'Leary's defense at Western Michigan ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (17.4 points per game), a mark that was also good for ninth in all the FBS.
The unit was also second in yards allowed per game (305.5) in the MAC and 19th in the country allowing 179.9 passing yards per game.
Nadame Tucker, a star defensive end who had 14.5 sacks under O'Leary at WMU, was at the Combine in Indianapolis.
He told Chargers.com on Wednesday that he has no doubt O'Leary will thrive in his new role.
"He loves ball. He's an energetic guy. He wears cleats during practice," Tucker said. "It's beautiful with him, the energy. I'm an energy guy too so we were feeding off each other's energy. It was great.
"I thrived off of his energy and he thrived off mine. He knew I wanted to go out there and make plays and that's what he needed me to do," Tucker added.
