
G · Los Angeles Chargers
4 transactions this offseason
Height
6'6"
Weight
355 lbs
Age
27
College
Georgia
Draft
Undrafted
Experience
5 yrs
G Rank
#138 / 166
Grade Ben Cleveland
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
On the field, Ben Cleveland grades out as a poor G for Los Angeles Chargers (F Performance). That places him 138th of 166 graded gs. Against that production, his deal reads as a slight overpay on the Contract Value Index (D+) — the team is paying below what the play would command. The public read is negative (D- Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.2M
AAV
$1.2M/yr
The Chargers took a low-risk flyer on Ben Cleveland with this $1.2M deal, but even at that modest price point, this contract earns a D+ CVI as a slight overpay for an unproven interior lineman. Cleveland remains largely untested at the NFL level despite bouncing around practice squads and brief roster stints, making it difficult to justify even replacement-level money for a guard who hasn't demonstrated he can handle regular snaps. The one-year structure does limit the Chargers' exposure, giving them an easy out if Cleveland fails to develop into a reliable contributor. However, for a team with playoff aspirations, allocating resources to such a speculative piece feels questionable when that money could have been better spent on proven depth. This looks like a camp body signing masquerading as a meaningful addition, and the Chargers likely could have found similar upside for less money or through undrafted free agency.
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Ben's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Ben Cleveland grades at an F for the Chargers at guard, a former third-round pick whose size has not translated into productive NFL play. Cleveland is a massive human being, but he has been routinely outmaneuvered by quicker interior defenders who use his lack of agility against him. His pass protection has been a problem, and the Chargers cannot afford weak links on a line protecting their franchise quarterback. The power and nastiness that made him a draft prospect have not shown up consistently at the NFL level. Los Angeles needs to find more reliable options at guard to keep their offense on track.
Ben Cleveland ranks 138th of 166 graded gs by performance. That slots Ben between Trevor Penning (F) just ahead and Mike Caliendo (F) just behind.
Graded higher
Trevor PenningLos Angeles ChargersFLucas PatrickNew York GiantsFDan FeeneyTampa Bay BuccaneersFGraded lower
Mike CaliendoKansas City ChiefsBen Cleveland's public perception reflects that of a journeyman interior lineman whose career trajectory has been decidedly underwhelming, earning a D- sentiment grade from fans and analysts. The guard's waiver wire pickup by the Chargers after Baltimore released him signals he's viewed as organizational depth rather than a meaningful contributor, with his inability to crack the Ravens' rotation serving as a red flag about his current capabilities. While Cleveland's Georgia pedigree and familiarity with the Chargers' system generate mild optimism among some supporters, the dominant narrative centers on his status as a replacement-level backup who might see spot duty if injuries strike. The fact that off-field divorce proceedings garnered more media attention than his football signing speaks volumes about his perceived impact on the field. Cleveland is largely viewed as a low-risk depth addition for a Chargers offensive line in flux, but expectations remain minimal given his recent struggles to establish himself as a consistent NFL contributor.
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Ben Cleveland is a player in his 5th NFL season listed at G for the Los Angeles Chargers. FanVerdicts covers every NFL player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Ben Cleveland, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index D+, Performance F, Sentiment D-.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NFL game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
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