The start of the 2025 NFL free agency period is just under two weeks away, meaning it won't be long before teams are throwing around boatloads of money in hopes of fielding a Super Bowl contender next season.
Los Angeles Chargers fans have been looking forward to free agency due to general manager Joe Hortiz having over $66.1 million to play with this offseason, per Spotrac. While having that much money gives the Chargers more than enough room to sign big-name free agents, they must be careful not to spend that cash on a contract that could quickly sour.
The good news for Chargers fans is that it looks like GM Hortiz isn't planning on making any regrettable mistakes this offseason.
Chargers News: GM Joe Hortiz to Be Cautious With Cap Space in Free Agency
According to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, the Chargers fanbase shouldn't expect Hortiz & Co. to be overly aggressive in free agency. Although adding elite free agents can be fun, management doesn't want to take any risks that could set the franchise back.
"I do not expect the Chargers to be shopping at the top of the market at any position in free agency," Popper said, based on conversations he heard during his time at this week's NFL scouting combine. "Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh are trying to build a sustainable winner, and the easiest way to torpedo that process is to whiff on a big-ticket free agent."
What I’m hearing about the #Chargers after a week in Indyhttps://t.co/gAECcrJrmv
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) February 28, 2025
Chargers fans don't have to look too far back to find one of Hortiz's bigger free-agent blunders.
It was only in 2022 when Los Angeles signed cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million contract following a second-team All-Pro performance. Jackson ended up playing below expectations, even getting benched and rupturing his patellar tendon before being traded to the New England Patriots — the team that he began his career with — for a 2025 sixth-round pick in October 2023.
In other words, Hortiz has learned from his mistakes. Popper writes that the Chargers GM and Harbaugh will be "responsible," "clinical," and "prudent" with their free agency approach as they prioritize getting the most value out of their signings rather than just chasing the biggest names.
"The true wins in free agency come when a team identifies a mid-market or lower-market player whose performance exceeds his compensation," Popper wrote. "That is where I expect Hortiz and Harbaugh to shop."
Chargers fans should be thrilled that the team is taking a more tactical approach toward free agency. After all, Los Angeles doesn't need any major changes after coming off an 11-win season that culminated in the franchise's first playoff berth since 2022. If anything, minor depth additions with high upside are all Harbaugh's squad needs to remain competitive.
Plans can shift on a dime, meaning the Chargers' offseason could be different than Popper projects. At the same time, Hortiz and Harbaugh have done a fantastic job at turning the team around, and the last thing they want to do is throw their progress out the window.
Fans will have a better idea of what the Chargers' plans for free agency will look like when the NFL tampering window opens on Monday, March 10.