MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

The Chargers 2026 schedule will be released on May 14. The schedule will include the usual opponents in the AFC West plus games against the AFC East and NFC West.

The Chargers will face the New York Jets, New England, Arizona, San Francisco and Houston at home as well as AFC West opponents Denver, Kansas City and Las Vegas. All times and dates to be revealed Thursday.

The Chargers seemed to be set at tight end. Last year they drafted Oronde Gadsden out of Syracuse in the fifth-round and he delivered with 49 receptions for 664 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season.

But everybody needs more tight ends. Just ask the Rams. The Chargers have agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million.

Njoku ranks second in Browns history in touchdown catches (34) and receptions (384) for a tight end trailing only Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome. But Njoku has missed 11 games in the last two years due to injury. Last season he caught just four touchdown passes and had 33 catches for 293 yards.

The Chargers will now carry three tight ends on the roster. They also have blocking tight end Charlie Kolar in the fold.

The Chargers signed second-round pick Jake Slaughter on Monday. The Chargers have now inked six of their eight draft picks to four-year rookie deals.

Slaughter played center at Florida but the Chargers signed free-agent center Tyler Biadasz and plan to move Slaughter to left guard in his rookie season. He will compete for the starting position at guard beginning in camp.

The signing of Slaughter leaves first-round edge rusher Akheem Mesidor and fourth-round wide receiver Brenen Thompson as the only unsigned Chargers draft picks.

Some feel that the Chargers best offensive signing in the offseason may have been Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.

McDaniel, who was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins last year, has worked with quarterbacks such as Donovan McNabb, Tua Tagovailoa, Brock Purdy and Matt Ryan in the past. Ryan won an MVP award in Atlanta while McDaniel was there and the Chargers are hopeful that McDaniel can get the most out of Justin Herbert. Herbert has all of the tools and McDaniel should be able to put them all to good use.

The Chargers open voluntary OTAs May 26 with Mandatory Minicamp set for June 16-18 at The Bolt in El Segundo.