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Chargers Surprise with Two Top 50 Impact Signings of Offseason
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- Chargers Surprise with Two Top 50 Impact Signings of Offseason
The Los Angeles Chargers have reached the stretch run of the NFL offseason. It's time for training camp and preseason football.
The Chargers have taken heat, some warranted and some not, for the moves that they did not make, but Los Angeles has plenty of offseason acquisitions to be proud of the last couple of months.
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Big signings like center Tyler Biadasz and tight end David Njoku may steal the headlines, but the Chargers made other important moves to bolster their roster. One NFL analyst is talking about players who may not get their due credit.
ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen shared his Top 50 most impactful offseason additions in the NFL. The Chargers had two players make the list. Who Bowen chose may surprise you.
Bowen listed new Chargers fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Charlie Kolar among the more impactful moves of the offseason. Here's what Bowen added on Ingold.
"Ingold signed with the Chargers to keep playing for Mike McDaniel, his former coach in Miami . Last season, the Dolphins ran 234 snaps of 21 personnel (2 RBs, 1 TE, 2 WRs), the second most in the league. Ingold will play a critical role in L.A.'s run game, plus he can align on the edges to create 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) looks."
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Bowen continued with his thoughts on the addition of Kolar.
"One of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Kolar will play a key role in the Chargers' ability to win on the edges in the run game. Plus, he can work the seams and find open turf underneath as a route runner. Kolar had two receiving touchdowns and a 75.5% run block win rate in Baltimore last season."
Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane (14) throws a pass and fullback Alec Ingold (30) blocks against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Bowen is hinting at a very specific game within the game that could key success for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme: The personnel battle.
When you have multiple tight ends and fullbacks capable of blocking at a high level and making plays with the football, you have a recipe for attacking matchups with the defense.
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The Chargers' newfound ability to go with more two back and two or three tight end sets dictates what defenses have to do to defend against Los Angeles. Play too many defensive backs, and the Chargers can bully with the run. Instead, teams may opt to play linebackers who don't play as often to match up with players like Kolar and Ingold. It's not what they want to do.
Ingold's knowledge of McDaniel's offense is simply an added bonus.
The Chargers made several great moves, but perhaps the more significant ones are those we don't often talk about this offseason. Keep an eye on Ingold and Kolar as they begin their first season in Los Angeles.
