
Hortiz at the 2026 Combine: Edge rushers, O-line, and McDaniel’s impact shaping Chargers’ offseason
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Chargers GM Joe Hortiz stressed protecting Justin Herbert and upgrading the offense and O-line, praised Mike McDaniel as a high-energy hire who’ll be more involved in the draft, and signaled willingness to pursue multiple edge-rushers (Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh) without tagging anyone. He noted Zion Johnson’s potentially strong free-agent market and discussed contract talks, while also introducing Chris O’Leary as the new defensive coordinator and play-caller, highlighting a zone-based approach that may shift how the Chargers evaluate players this offseason.













