Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced his retirement on Monday after an eight-year career. Bozeman’s production declined over his final two seasons, raising questions about the Chargers’ plans at center as they now look toward various options.
Reviewing Bozeman’s Performance and Salary Cap Impact
During the 2025 regular season, Bozeman ranked last (40th) among centers in overall offensive grade (51.7%) and run blocking (51.1%), according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). His pass blocking also ranked near the bottom at 37th with a 49.2% grade. He allowed a career-high six hits and was hurried 22 times, figures that demonstrated his struggles protecting the quarterback and opening running lanes.
Although he had some strong moments, such as a notable Week 6 performance against the Miami Dolphins—when tight end Will Dissly gained 14 yards thanks to Bozeman’s effective block outside the pocket—such highlights were rare. Since the Chargers have already been trying to establish consistency after Corey Linsley’s retirement, Bozeman’s departure frees up roughly $5.8 million in cap space, adding to the team’s existing $83 million, giving them flexibility to address the center position.
Free Agency Options at Center and Potential Position Shifts
One internal candidate is Andre James, currently an unrestricted free agent who started only one game in 2025 for the Chargers in Week 18 versus Denver and saw limited action in Week 11 against Jacksonville. James appeared regularly during the preseason, including a start against the Saints, displaying promise. Before joining Los Angeles, he performed well with the Raiders, allowing few pressures or sacks. PFF projects that James could sign a one-year deal worth approximately $1.2 million, making him a viable short-term option while the Chargers potentially develop a rookie center.
The Chargers might also experiment by shifting offensive guard Zion Johnson to center. Johnson and Bozeman swapped roles during training camp, although Johnson had no previous NFL experience at center, unlike Bozeman, who has also played guard. Johnson is also an unrestricted free agent with a projected four-year contract averaging $12.75 million annually. He has been an average guard, and with new offensive coordinator Mike McDanel in place, the team may prefer to keep Johnson at guard. Still, his flexibility gives the Chargers creative options to fill the center gap.
Looking at top-tier centers in free agency, the list is limited. Baltimore Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum ranks fifth overall among centers and fourth in run blocking for the 2025 season. Despite allowing slightly more pressure and hurries than in previous years, his sack allowance remained low at just two. Daniel Popper of The Athletic highlighted Linderbaum’s
run blocking is among the best in the league,
emphasizing the importance of this skill if the Chargers want to optimize running back Omarion Hampton’s usage. Linderbaum is expected to command a four-year deal averaging around $20 million per year, meaning the Chargers would have to commit significant financial resources to acquire him.
Another quality free-agent center is Connor McGovern from the Buffalo Bills. In 2025, he ranked 15th overall, 20th in run blocking, and sixth in pass blocking among centers. McGovern allowed no sacks over his last two seasons, a notable achievement. Popper described him as someone who
wins consistently, both as a run blocker and pass protector, with technique, quick reactions and athleticism,
and noted his versatility having played both guard and center. This flexibility is valuable for a Charger team that struggled with offensive line continuity in 2025. PFF projects a three-year contract worth about $13 million annually for McGovern.
Given the commission costs and loyalty of teams to Linderbaum and McGovern, the Chargers’ most practical route besides retaining James may lie in the NFL draft.
Potential NFL Draft Picks to Fill the Center Role
Among draft prospects, Connor Lew from Auburn consistently appears on ESPN’s 2026 NFL Draft Position Rankings. Despite suffering an ACL tear in October 2025 limiting his game time, Lew’s 2024 performance showed strong potential, with a career-high snap count and minimal allowed sacks or pressures.
Iowa’s Logan Jones is another noteworthy candidate. He allowed only one sack last season and maintained high PFF grades in both pass and run blocking across recent seasons, achieving a career-best 90.2% pass blocking grade in 2025. The Chargers may hope to replicate their success with rookie offensive tackle Joe Alt by securing a center who can contribute at a high level early in his career.
The Chargers’ reputation for discovering talent in later draft rounds could also help them find a promising center, even if they do not select a highly ranked player on the draft’s first day.
With Bradley Bozeman’s retirement, the Chargers face a critical juncture in their pursuit of stability at the center position. Whether through free agency, internal adjustments, or the draft, the team’s decisions will influence both their offensive line performance and overall offensive success moving forward.
