Chargers Bolster Offensive Line, Reunite Cole Strange with Mike McDaniel in $13M Deal
The Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to terms with guard Cole Strange on a two-year, $13 million contract, reuniting the offensive lineman with his former head coach Mike McDaniel, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move addresses a significant need for the Chargers, who entered the offseason with both starting guard positions vacant. The team previously released Mekhi Becton and watched starting guard Zion Johnson depart for Cleveland on a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Browns.
Strange’s NFL journey has been anything but conventional. The Tennessee-Chattanooga product was selected 29th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft—a pick widely considered a reach at the time. He silenced early critics by starting all 17 games as a rookie, demonstrating the durability and toughness that initially attracted scouts.
However, Strange’s trajectory was derailed in late 2023 when he suffered a torn patellar tendon. The injury limited him to just 10 games in his sophomore season and sidelined him until December of the 2024 campaign, when he appeared in only three contests for New England. The Patriots ultimately released Strange at the conclusion of the 2025 preseason.
After briefly landing on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad, Strange found new life in Miami when McDaniel signed him to the Dolphins’ active roster in September. The 26-year-old started all 14 games he appeared in for Miami, playing well enough to earn another multi-year contract in free agency.
While the metrics weren’t flawless—Pro Football Focus credited Strange with allowing 21 pressures, 16 hurries, and two sacks during his Dolphins tenure—McDaniel clearly saw enough to bring the lineman to Los Angeles. The familiarity between coach and player should ease Strange’s transition to a new offensive system.
The Chargers have prioritized protecting quarterback Justin Herbert, and adding a starting-caliber guard at $6.5 million annually represents reasonable value in today’s market. Los Angeles re-signed Trevor Penning earlier in free agency, though Penning may serve as tackle insurance behind established starters Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
That leaves Strange penciled in as a likely starter along the interior offensive line. The Chargers will be counting on the former first-rounder to recapture the form that made him an immediate contributor in New England, while maintaining the health that eluded him during his Patriots tenure.
For Strange, the deal represents both financial security and an opportunity to prove he can be a long-term NFL starter. For McDaniel and the Chargers, it’s a calculated bet on a player the head coach knows well—one that could solidify a critical position group ahead of the 2026 season.
