The Los Angeles Chargers are staring down one of the most pivotal offseasons in franchise history. With a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert and a roster that’s teetering on the edge of contention, every decision from here on out carries weight. And when it comes to the offensive line-specifically the center position-it’s time for the Chargers to make a tough, but necessary call: move on from Bradley Bozeman.
Let’s not dance around it-Bozeman’s 2025 season was rough. Statistically, he graded out as one of the league’s lowest-performing centers, and unfortunately, the eye test didn’t do him any favors either.
Week after week, the interior of the Chargers’ offensive line failed to hold up in pass protection. And when the pocket collapsed, it was often coming right up the gut-exactly where Bozeman was supposed to be the anchor.
For a quarterback like Herbert, who thrives when he can step into throws and manipulate the pocket, consistent interior pressure is a nightmare. You can sometimes scheme around edge pressure or chip a dominant pass rusher off the edge.
But when the middle caves in? That’s a different story.
It disrupts timing, limits vision, and forces hurried decisions. Herbert took too many hits last season that started with breakdowns at the center position.
But the issues didn’t stop with pass protection. The Chargers’ run game never found its footing, especially between the tackles.
There were too many missed assignments, not enough push at the line of scrimmage, and far too many negative plays on early downs. For a team that’s trying to become more physical and balanced on offense, that’s a problem.
The center isn’t just another lineman-he’s the heartbeat of the interior. And in 2025, that heartbeat was out of rhythm.
The silver lining? The Chargers aren’t financially handcuffed.
They’re projected to have significant cap space this offseason, and Bozeman’s contract offers a clean exit ramp. Cutting him would come with a manageable dead cap hit-around $2 million-but would clear roughly $6-7 million in space.
That’s not just pocket change. That’s enough to go get a proven veteran in free agency or extend one of your foundational pieces.
Yes, dead cap is never ideal. But in this case, it’s a smart investment in the future.
You’re not saddled with years of financial baggage. You’re taking a short-term hit to open up long-term flexibility-and to address a position that simply didn’t meet expectations.
And that’s what this boils down to: performance. The NFL doesn’t wait for players to figure it out.
If the tape and the production don’t match up, teams have to act. The Chargers can’t afford to roll the dice on a bounce-back year from Bozeman when the evidence says otherwise.
Not when the stakes are this high. Not when Herbert’s prime is right now.
If the Chargers are serious about making a run in 2026, they have to get better up front-starting at center. Whether that’s through the draft or free agency, they need a tone-setter in the middle of the line. Someone who can keep Herbert clean and help establish a ground game that actually keeps defenses honest.
Keeping Bozeman after a season like that? It sends the wrong message.
It says mediocrity is acceptable. It says hope is a strategy.
And that’s not how championship teams operate.
The Chargers are close. But close doesn’t win in January.
Close doesn’t protect your franchise quarterback. Close doesn’t open up running lanes or convert third-and-short.
If they want to take the next step, it starts with accountability. And that means making the call that’s staring them in the face.
It’s time to move on from Bradley Bozeman.