If the Chargers release right guard Mekhi Becton, as an ESPN.com report Wednesday said they would in the coming days, and if they fail to re-sign pending free agent left guard Zion Johnson, then they’d start the season with three new linemen between tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler cited an unnamed source in his Becton report.
Center Bradley Bozeman announced his retirement Feb. 23, after eight seasons in the NFL, including the past two with the Chargers. Bozeman’s retirement saves the team $6 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season. By jettisoning Becton, the Chargers would gain another $9.7 million.
Revamping their interior offensive line is a top priority for the Chargers entering free agency next Wednesday and during the NFL draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. The Chargers have the No. 22 selection and four additional picks in the seven-round draft.
Becton had a rocky, injury-plagued 2025 season with the Chargers after helping the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl following the ’24 season. He signed a two-year contract worth up to $20 million with the Chargers on March 14, 2025, with $6.94 million guaranteed.
Injuries combined with lackluster play when he was on the field coupled with season-ending injuries to Slater and Alt left the Chargers vulnerable up front. Quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked a career-high 54 times, the second most of any NFL quarterback last season.
Becton played only 72% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps over his 15 games last season.
Slater injured his knee during training camp and sat out the entire season. Alt hurt his ankle during Week 9 and could not play again. The Chargers expect both to be sound enough to start the 2026 season, with general manager Joe Hortiz saying in January they were ahead of schedule.
The Chargers won 11 games for the second consecutive season with Bozeman at center, but they also were knocked out of the AFC wild-card round for the second season in a row. In the end, Bozeman was not an adequate replacement for Corey Linsley, who retired following the 2023 season.
Johnson’s standout play could make him too expensive for the Chargers to re-sign, especially if he hits the open market as expected next week. Johnson played every snap this past season until sitting out to rest for the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos.
The firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman at season’s end and the hiring of former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as his replacement was expected to hasten Becton’s departure. McDaniel’s game plan in Miami called for a quicker and more nimble offensive line.
Becton, 26, was a first-round pick (11th overall) by the Jets in 2020, but he was injury-prone during four seasons with New York before the Eagles signed him April 28, 2024. He enjoyed an injury-free season with Philadelphia, opted for free agency and signed with the Chargers.
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