The Los Angeles Chargers have wasted no time in shaking up their offensive line this offseason, making a splash by signing guard Cole Strange to a two-year, $13 million contract, with $9 million guaranteed. The deal, inked on March 9, 2026, signals a clear commitment from general manager Joe Hortiz to protect franchise quarterback Justin Herbert after a turbulent 2025 campaign. Strange, 27, brings both versatility and experience to a unit that desperately needed both after last season’s struggles.
Strange’s arrival in Los Angeles marks a reunion with Mike McDaniel, his former head coach in Miami, who now serves as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. The connection isn’t lost on fans or insiders—Strange started 14 games at right guard for the Dolphins in 2025, logging 99% of the team’s offensive snaps and demonstrating a workhorse mentality despite some adversity. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Bolts are betting that McDaniel can tap further into Strange’s potential, especially as he implements his blocking schemes and offensive vision in Los Angeles.
Drafted 29th overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Strange’s NFL journey has been anything but linear. After two full seasons in New England, including a rookie campaign where he started all 17 games, he suffered a torn patellar tendon late in 2023. That setback sidelined him for much of 2024, but he found new life when the Dolphins signed him off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad in September 2025. Strange made the most of his opportunity in Miami, starting every game he played and showing the tenacity that first made him a first-round pick.
Strange’s versatility is one of his calling cards. Over his four-year career, he’s played in 44 games with 43 starts, primarily at left guard (1,546 snaps), but also logging significant time at right guard (808 snaps) and even center (117 snaps). That flexibility is a major asset for a Chargers offensive line that has been battered by injuries and roster churn. In fact, the Bolts had just two linemen returning from last season—both coming off injured reserve—making Strange’s arrival all the more crucial.
Statistically, Strange’s 2025 season was a mixed bag. Pro Football Focus assigned him a 54.9 overall grade, ranking him 58th out of 81 qualified guards. His pass protection received a 42.2 grade, while his run blocking was more solid at 57. Still, durability and scheme familiarity may outweigh those numbers in the eyes of McDaniel, who also lobbied for the Chargers to sign fullback Alec Ingold, another of his former Miami standouts, earlier in the week.
“Obviously, we need to add to the offensive line,” Hortiz said, as quoted by Chargers.com. “We’re frankly thin in terms of numbers there right now. That is the plan, that is the goal, comfortable with what’s out there in the draft and free agency. We’re going to focus, it won’t be the only focus, but certainly not going to ignore the offensive line… We’re going to keep adding to it and see what we can come up with.”
The Chargers’ offensive line overhaul doesn’t stop with Strange. The team moved swiftly to sign center Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million contract, replacing the recently retired Bradley Bozeman, who was graded as the NFL’s worst center in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Biadasz, a former Washington Commander, is expected to anchor the line and bring much-needed stability to the interior.
Depth remains a concern, but Los Angeles has begun to address it by agreeing to a one-year deal with Trevor Penning, who played in seven games (three starts) for the Chargers last season after arriving via trade from the New Orleans Saints. Penning’s presence, along with Strange’s positional flexibility, gives the Bolts options as they continue to tinker with their lineup ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Of course, not all the news has been positive for the Chargers’ offensive front. The departure of starting guard Zion Johnson, who signed a lucrative three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, leaves a significant hole at left guard. Johnson was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise beleaguered line last season, and his exit means the competition for starting spots will be fierce in training camp. With Mehki Becton released before free agency—saving the team $9.7 million—the right guard position is now Strange’s to lose, but the left guard slot remains up for grabs.
Strange’s football journey traces back to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played six seasons (2016–2021) and became the highest-drafted player in the program’s history. His collegiate pedigree, combined with his NFL experience, makes him an intriguing fit for a Chargers team looking to rebuild its identity in the trenches.
Social media reactions to the Strange signing have been mixed but generally optimistic. Fans are hopeful that the combination of McDaniel’s offensive acumen and Strange’s work ethic will pay dividends. “He should provide much-needed depth to the offensive line, a unit that struggled to stay healthy throughout the 2025 season,” one analyst noted. Another added, “Strange is entering his fifth NFL season and is set to don powder blue for the next two seasons.”
With plenty of cap space remaining after these moves, the Chargers are expected to remain active in free agency and the draft. The team’s commitment to bolstering the offensive line is clear, and further additions—either veteran signings or rookies—would not be a surprise. Coach Jim Harbaugh, entering his third season at the helm, will likely have a revamped unit protecting Herbert as the team aims to rebound from last year’s disappointments.
As it stands, Cole Strange’s signing is just one piece of a much larger puzzle for the Chargers. The offensive line is undergoing a transformation, and while Strange’s arrival doesn’t solve every problem, it’s a decisive step in the right direction. With key departures and new faces, the battle for starting spots will be one of the most closely watched storylines in Los Angeles this offseason. Chargers fans, get ready—change is most definitely in the air.