How Chargers GM Joe Hortiz's moves make his case for Executive of the Year

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz built a playoff roster in his first year on the job.

He should be in the conversation for Executive of the Year.

Jim Harbaugh has been the face of this Chargers turnaround, and the coach deserves plenty of credit.

They are not in the postseason without Harbaughs leadership and culture-shaping.

But they are also not in the postseason without Hortiz who came to Los Angeles after 26 seasons in a variety of roles with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chargers have needed both men Hortiz providing the resources and Harbaugh molding those resources into an effective and consistent on-field product.

GO DEEPER 'He's that guy': Jim Harbaugh cements turnaround as Chargers clinch playoff spot Harbaugh and Hortiz have an excellent working relationship, and their synchronicity in vision and execution propelled the Chargers to a successful jump-start of this new program.

Harbaugh and Hortiz have been in lockstep, and it is the type of partnership rooted in mutual respect and collaboration that leads to sustained winning.

Advertisement Over the past 11 months, Hortiz has been put on an impressive display of roster management and talent identification.

He has been aided by his front office additions of assistant GM Chad Alexander and director of player personnel strategy Corey Krawiec.

The hits were frequent.

The misses were very rare.

Its that obvious, Harbaugh said, how great of a job Joe Hortiz has done.

Hortiz has maintained conviction in his process, and that has been evident since the very beginning of his Chargers tenure.

He arrived in early February facing a less-than-ideal financial situation.

The Chargers were miles over the salary cap, and Hortiz had difficult decisions to make, most notably on four veterans in Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Hortiz ended up taking an unconventional approach.

He kept the edge rushers in Bosa and Mack, negotiating pay cuts with both players.

He cut Williams ahead of the new league year in March.

And he traded Allen to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick.

It was bold.

Allen is a franchise legend.

He was Justin Herberts favorite target.

But Hortiz believed in building through the trenches.

He could not pass up on the opportunity to maintain the roster strength at edge rusher.

And while the offense has struggled at times this season because of the lack of pass catchers, the Chargers defense has been a borderline top-10 unit.

Mack has put together another quality season.

Bosa battled injuries but has been steadily improving late in the season.

Harbaugh and coordinator Jesse Minter molded the defensive identity around the strength on the edge, and it has paid off.

GO DEEPER Jesse Minter's play-calling philosophies translating nicely to Chargers defense Horitz then moved into free agency.

How he handled the four veterans gave the Chargers enough room to go bargain hunting.

None of their free-agent signings had a 2024 cap hit over $3 million, according to Over the Cap.

They found starters and depth despite the financial restrictions.

Running back J.K.

Dobbins was coming off two significant injuries.

Hortiz took a flier.

Dobbins has set career highs in rushing yards and scrimmage yards this season.

Advertisement Tight end Will Dissly has brought high-level run blocking.

He has also been a factor in the passing game, setting career highs in receptions (45) and receiving yards (439).

Dissly has 277 yards after the catch, according to TruMedia.

His 6.2 yards after catch per reception ranks fifth among tight ends.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman has missed time in the second half of the season with a groin injury, but he was essential early in the year in helping establish a physical identity on defense, particularly against the run.

Defensive lineman Poona Ford has been a revelation and one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league this season.

GO DEEPER 'Hes really hungry': Inside Poona Ford's resurgent season for Chargers defense Cornerback Kristian Fulton has been the Chargers best cornerback.

Linebacker Troy Dye has played well as a starter as the Chargers have navigated injuries at the position.

Center Bradley Bozeman signed for under $1 million.

He has started all 16 games.

Bozeman has some weaknesses in his game, for sure.

But his leadership and experience have been important in the offensive line room as the Chargers have transitioned to a new scheme.

Bozeman had familiarity with the scheme after playing for Greg Roman with the Ravens.

For the price, Bozeman has been a serviceable stopgap option at center.

Edge rusher Bud Dupree played an important role while Bosa missed time with his hip injury.

Dupree has six sacks on the year.

Hortiz made a strength stronger with this veteran signing.

Tight end Hayden Hurst and receiver DJ Chark were two free-agent signings that did not work out.

But the value Hortiz created in free agency far outweighed these two relative misses.

Hortiz and his staff had a truly outstanding first draft in April.

The Chargers drafted Joe Alt at No.

5.

He is already a good starting NFL right tackle, and he does not turn 22 until February.

Receiver Ladd McConkey set the Chargers rookie records for receptions and receiving yards this season.

He is a star.

Hortiz traded up in the second round from pick 37 to pick 34 to take McConkey.

He could have taken a receiver with the fifth pick.

Instead, he took what he believed was the best offensive lineman in the draft and waited for an opportunity to add a receiver in the second round.

Advertisement The pick Hortiz used to move up from 37 to 34? That was the fourth-rounder the Chargers got in the Allen trade.

In return, the Chargers got pick 137.

They used that to select cornerback Tarheeb Still, who has played over 700 defensive snaps as a rookie in multiple roles.

Stills four interceptions are second-most among rookies.

His 10 passes defended are tied for fourth among rookies.

Three picks later, the Chargers took cornerback Cam Hart, who has played over 400 defensive snaps this season as a long, physical presence on the outside.

GO DEEPER Why Chargers rookie Tarheeb Still has been a 'gift from the football gods' In one draft, Hortiz selected a long-term starter at tackle, a long-term starter at receiver and two long-term starters corner.

At his introductory news conference in February, Hortiz vowed to churn that bottom of the roster.

He followed up on that, making roster-building a continuous process.

They signed Tony Jefferson in June.

Jefferson had retired and spent 2023 in the Ravens personnel department.

Jefferson has played 187 defensive snaps over the past five weeks because of injuries at safety.

He will have a crucial role in the playoffs.

In August, Hortiz added more contributors.

He signed tight end Tucker Fisk, who has played nearly 200 offensive snaps and has been a steady blocker in the run game.

The Chargers signed defensive lineman Teair Tart days after Tart had been cut by the Dolphins.

Alexander played a key role in this addition.

Tart has played 329 defensive snaps.

He has been a disruptive force as a run defender and pass rusher.

On Aug.

28, Hortiz traded a seventh-round pick to the Titans for defensive back Elijah Molden, who played 760 defensive snaps this season, the third-most on the team heading into Week 18.

Molden suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Week 17.

But before the injury, he was instrumental in the Chargers defensive resurgence under Minter.

Molden provided stability in the deep part of the field, and as a result, Minter could move Derwin James Jr.

closer to the line of scrimmage, including at the nickel position.

Advertisement That same day, Hortiz upgraded at backup quarterback by trading a conditional seventh-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Taylor Heinicke and the team also claimed running back Hassan Haskins off waivers from the Tennessee Titans.

Haskins played for Harbaugh at Michigan.

Haskins has played 275 special teams snaps this season, third-most on the team.

He had one of the most heads-up plays of the season when he chased down a botched punt snap in Week 8 and knocked it out of the end zone, preventing a New Orleans Saints touchdown.

Haskins also scored his first two career touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.

Hortiz has continued to churn the roster through the regular season with common-sense veteran signings and waiver claims.

The Chargers signed Jalen Reagor to the practice squad in September.

Before injuring his finger in December, Reagor caught seven passes for 100 yards, including a key back-shoulder explosive down the right sideline to help ice the win over the Saints in Week 8.

Hortiz signed cornerback Eli Apple to the practice squad in mid-October, Two weeks later, Apple played 34 defensive snaps in a win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Chargers claimed safety Marcus Maye off waivers from the Dolphins on Nov.

27, another move spurred by Alexander, who was with Maye with the New York Jets.

Four days later, Maye played 21 snaps and had an interception in his Chargers debut, a win at the Atlanta Falcons.

Maye landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos.

Hortiz signed another veteran safety in Eddie Jackson to the practice squad.

Jackson played 21 snaps in last weeks win over the New England Patriots.

Leaving no stone unturned, Minter said of Hortizs approach this season.

There are so many deserving candidates, and that makes Hortizs pathway difficult.

Advertisement Adam Peters has led the Washington Commanders to the playoffs in his first season.

Howie Roseman has raised the Philadelphia Eagles from fringe playoff team in 2023 to Super Bowl contender this season.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has the Minnesota Vikings at 14-2 with a chance to win the NFC North and claim the conferences top seed.

Just to name a few.

Still, Hortizs resume matches up with the best of the best personnel executives in the league this season.

Hes been phenomenal, Harbaugh said.

(Top photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images).

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