Los Angeles Chargers: Add Talented Offensive Lineman With 60 Starts
The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed starting center Bradley Bozeman to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. Bozeman struggled in pass protection but performed well in the running game. He allowed the fourth-most pressures, the sixth-most hurries and QB hits, and the fifth-most sacks and finished 24th in pass-blocking, 16th in run-blocking, and 21st in overall grade among 28 qualified centers who played at least 50% of snaps (h/t) PFF.
Despite retaining Bozeman, the Chargers will hold a competition for the starting center position for the 2025 season with their most recent acquisition.
Los Angeles Chargers add talented offensive lineman with 60 starts
On X, the Chargers announced they had signed former Las Vegas Raiders starting center Andre James to a one-year contract.
James enters his seventh year and has exclusively played at center throughout his NFL career. He has played 89 games with 60 starts. He turns 28 in May.
The newcomer had a disappointing 2024 campaign
Andre James had a disappointing 2024 campaign, taking a slight step back in pass protection and run blocking, missing Weeks 9-11 with an ankle injury, and upon returning, lost the starting center job to Jackson Powers-Johnson until Week 15, later regaining his old spot for their final three games due to injuries. James surrendered 17 pressures, 14 hurries, one QB hit, and two sacks, posting a 65.4 pass-blocking, a 50.2 run-blocking, and a 55.5 overall PFF grade in 13 games and 11 starts.
The Las Vegas Raiders decided to cut James last week because they have confidence in Powers-Johnson.
What now?
As previously discussed, Bradley Bozeman and Andre James will compete for the starting center job this offseason in an exciting competition. The expectation is for the Chargers to name a winner during training camp, allowing each player to be given a fair shake. Will Bozeman hold onto the starting job, or will James dethrone him and snap balls for Justin Herbert?
Chargers bring UCLA lineman home in free agency
The Chargers signed a former UCLA Bruin to the offensive line.
Following a flurry of free agency moves for the Los Angeles Chargers — including a one-year, $18 million contract for Khalil Mack — the Bolts continued adding to their roster on Tuesday afternoon. In a move to bolster up their offensive line, the Chargers signed free agent center Andre James, per Adam Schefter on X, who’s returning to the Los Angeles area after playing three seasons for the UCLA football program.
“Chargers signed center Andre James, who spent the past six seasons with the Raiders,” Schefter wrote. “James now returns to LA, where he played college football at UCLA.”
Once Jim Harbaugh got hired by the Chargers ahead of the 2024 season, it didn’t take long for LA to revive a rushing attack that was a bit dormant in 2023.
- 2023: 96.6 rushing yards per game (25th/32)
- 2024: 110.7 rushing yards per game (17th/32)
While it isn’t the biggest jump in the world, it shows a positive trend for Harbaugh and his Chargers offense.
