NFL free agency is off and running, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts.
The new league year began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which means free agents can now officially be signed. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the Los Angeles Chargers and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Khalil Mack, LB
Mack signed a one-year deal worth $18 million fully guaranteed.
What it means: Mack has been one of the most important players on what has been one of the league's best defenses over the past two seasons. His counting stats were down in 2025, partly due to an elbow injury that sidelined him for four games, but his impact was evident. In the four weeks without Mack, Los Angeles allowed 579 rushing yards, sixth-most in the NFL. But from his return in Week 7 until Week 18 -- when most Chargers starters sat out -- Los Angeles allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards (1,046).
This move gives first year defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary another key player back in the fold as he looks to keep the Chargers defense among the league's best.
Trey Pipkins III, OT
The Chargers are bringing back Pipkins on a two-year, $10 million deal.
What it means: Pipkins is likely a depth signing and provides the Chargers with their swing tackle in 2026. Pipkins held down right tackle last season after Rashawn Slater went suffered a season-ending injury and was one of the Los Angeles' more consistent lineman on the league's worst offensive line.
Pipkins played guard in coach Jim Harbaugh's first season and could compete for a starting role there again depending on who else the team signs and drafts. But it seems more likely he will be a depth player and the swing tackle for this group.
Del'Shawn Phillips, LB
Phillips and the Chargers agreed to a two-year deal.
What it means: Special team's coordinator Ryan Ficken is likely somewhere jumping for joy. Phillips was one of the league's best specialists. He led the NFL in tackles on special teams with 24, which was also a single-season franchise record. Phillips' effectiveness earned him second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.
For a unit that fluctuated in 2025, getting Phillips back is a big step toward it having consistency under Ficken.
Charlie Kolar, TE
Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million deal, including $17M guaranteed, with Los Angeles.
What it means: After releasing tight end Will Dissly, the Chargers had just one tight end on the roster heading into free agency. Kolar, who turned 27 in February, excelled as a blocking tight end in Baltimore but showed upside as a pass catcher, too. Kolar was behind tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, so he didn't get many pass-catching opportunities unless one of the two was hurt. Still, he finished with ten catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
General manager Joe Hortiz has some familiarity with Kolar, as he was part of the staff that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft when Hortiz was in Baltimore. Kolar will pair with tight end Oronde Gadsden to give the Chargers a good balance between a pass-catching and run-blocking tight ends.
Keaton Mitchell, RB
The former Ravens running back signed a two-year, $9.25 million deal and $5 million guaranteed with the Chargers.
What it means: The Chargers have found their replacement for running back Najee Harris. Mitchell, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash, went undrafted in 2023 but made the Ravens' 53-man roster. He quickly found a role in Baltimore, averaging 6.3 yards per carry over his three seasons. Mitchell sustained a torn MCL, PCL, and LCL during Week 15 of his rookie season, an injury that sidelined him until November of the following year. Mitchell returned to form in 2025, playing 13 games and finishing with 341 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Speed has historically been paramount in Mike McDaniel's offenses, and Mitchell should thrive because of it, as past McDaniel speedsters such as running backs De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert did in Miami. Harris and Omarion Hampton were supposed to be a dominant rushing duo that coach Harbaugh coveted, but injuries derailed that plan. They'll try again with Mitchell as Hampton's new running mate.
Deane Leonard, CB
Leonard reached a one-year deal with the Chargers.
What it means: A seventh-round pick in 2022, Leonard returns to the Chargers for a fifth season, where he has carved out a role as a valuable special teams player. He serves as a gunner on the team's kickoff and punt units, often using his 4.39-second 40-yard dash speed to tackle opponents. In a special teams unit that was constantly in flux due to different trades last season, Leonard was a reliable option when healthy, playing in nine games, including the playoffs.
Alec Ingold, FB
Ingold and the Chargers agreed to terms on a two-year contract and up to $7.5 million.
What it means: The biggest thing this signing might signify is that fullback/defensive tackle Scott Matlock is likely now a long shot to make the roster. Matlock, a sixth round pick in 2023 draft, found his place on Harbaugh's team playing both sides of the ball but was never exceptional at either. Matlock showed significant improvement as a fullback last season, his second year playing the role.
Still, Ingold has familiarity with new coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense from playing under McDaniel for four seasons in Miami, and is more athletic and comfortable catching passes than Matlock.
Trevor Penning, OT
Penning and the Chargers reached an agreement on a one-year deal.
What it means: The Chargers traded for Penning in November last season, hoping the 2022 first round pick could boost the league's worst offensive line. Penning started at left tackle in his second game, against the Jaguars and struggled mightily, allowing a team-high eight pressures and one sack; no other lineman allowed more than three pressures, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats.
Penning didn't start another game until Week 18, when Harbaugh benched most starters, but he did regularly play as a sixth lineman on offense often as a pulling or lead blocker, which the team was happy with. It seems likely that Penning will fill that role again as the Chargers re-tool the offensive line.
Cole Strange, G
Strange and the Chargers reached an agreement on a two-year deal.
What it means: Strange will likely be the Chargers' replacement for Mekhi Becton at right guard. The 2022 first-round pick started 14 games at right guard, ranking 26th amongst guards in pass block win rate (91.9%) and 59th in run block win rate (65.8%). Statistically, Strange is a slight run blocking upgrade from Becton, who ranked 61st in RBWR (63.4%), but slightly behind as a pass blocker where as Becton ranked 17th in PBWR (91.2%).
Strange has versatility, with experience starting at left guard and center in New England, though he will almost certainly play guard with the Chargers.
Tyler Biadasz, C
Biadasz, formerly a member of the Washington Commanders (2024-25) and the Dallas Cowboys (2020-24), reached a deal on March 6.
What it means: Biadasz will replace Bradley Bozeman, the Chargers' starting center for the past two seasons, who retired in February.
In Biadasz, Los Angeles signed the first player in an interior offensive line that could look completely different next season. In addition to Bozeman's retirement, left guard Zion Johnson is set to be a free agent and fetch a lucrative deal on the market. L.A. also released right guard Mekhi Becton on March 4.
Biadasz graded higher than Bozeman in both pass block (94.5%) and run block win rate (69.9%) last season. Bozeman ranked 30th in PBWR, while Biadasz finished 15th. In RBWR, Bozeman ranked 18th compared to Biadasz at 16th.
Denzel Perryman, LB
The linebacker is returning to L.A. on a one-year deal.
What it means: The Chargers might be sticking with the same starting group of Daiyan Henley and Perryman. Junior Colson, a third-round pick in the 2024 draft, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, will likely also be in the mix for the starting role.
Perryman will be 34 in December and is entering his 12th season, but he was still the Chargers' most effective run defender last season. He missed seven games in 2025, two for a suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit, and the other five due to an ankle injury in Week 1 that landed him on injured reserve.