Chargers explore bringing in former 49ers guard Spencer Burford. Could he be the missing piece for their interior offensive line?
As of right now, there are no new free agent signings for the Los Angeles Chargers since they announced the re-signing of backup QB Trey Lance.
However, Jeremy Fowler (who has been all over Chargers free agent news this offseason) did have one interesting note that he posted about on X:
The Chargers bringing former San Francisco 49ers OG Spencer Burford in for a visit is interesting for a number of reasons.
For one, Burford has never really been considered a starter for the 49ers since they drafted him in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He's always been a fine, but average, backup guard.
This being his first time hitting free agency, I would've expected Burford to sign with a team where he has a legitimate chance of winning a starting job....but maybe that is with the Chargers? More on that in a moment.
Second, no need to look it up, Burford has never played for Mike McDaniel. McDaniel left the 49ers before the 2022 season, but that matters less than Burford having experience in the Kyle Shanahan offensive system that McDaniel built his offense on.
Third, I really thought the Chargers would've signed a starting OG in free agency by now. I fully expect them to use a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on a guard that they trust can move into the starting offensive line immediately, but I also expected them to solidify the other two interior line spots via free agency.
So far, here's what the Chargers offensive line looks like:
LT Rashawn Slater
LG ???
C Tyler Biadasz (signed via free agency!)
RG ???
RT Joe Alt
BENCH
OT Trey Pipkins III
OG Cole Strange
OG Trevor Penning
C Josh Kaltenberger
I'll keep my opinions to myself, at this moment, about the quality of the team's bench players. However, if there appears to be an opening anywhere on the roster for another guard, it is certainly not on the bench.
If the Chargers were to sign Spencer Burford to a contract, I imagine that would mean that he and Cole Strange (and, I suppose, Trevor Penning) would battle it out to see who gets whichever starting job doesn't go to the rookie. That feels like an odd way to head into the season when the team has oodles of salary cap space and is coming off a season that was derailed by a lack of any real depth on the offensive line.
Veteran guard Joel Bitonio is a free agent this offseason, and coming off another year as one of the best guards in the entire league, and has spoken about wanting to leave the Cleveland Browns to join a contender on a short-term contract. That would seemingly be a good way for Joe Hortiz to spend some of Dean Spanos' money!
James Daniels, who I referenced in an earlier post, missed all but three snaps of the season for Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins last season but has a long track record of proven performance at the guard spot for the Steelers and Bears.
With proven starters available in free agency, and several backup guards already on the roster, I am a bit confused as to why the Chargers are hosting yet another backup guard and seemingly ignoring the rest of the market.