Los Angeles Chargers sign Charlie Kolar

Charlie Kolar's three-year, $24.3M signing ($8.1M AAV) with the Chargers earns a D+ Contract Value Index (CVI)—a below-market deal that reflects both the tight-end's depth-chart positioning and the team's calculated bet on potential in an offseason window. At the starter salary tier, this contract suggests Los Angeles views Kolar as a complementary weapon rather than a franchise cornerstone, pricing him well below elite tight-end money while preserving cap flexibility as the team sits at 11-6 with playoff positioning already secured. The $8.1M AAV aligns with a solid starter valuation, but the three-year commitment introduces risk if Kolar doesn't develop into the TE1 production level that recent roster chatter has hinted at—a classic mid-tier tight-end gamble where the Chargers are banking on volume opportunity over proven elite output. The signing avoids crippling the cap and leaves room to address other roster gaps, which is prudent for a win-now roster, but the D+ grade underscores that this deal works only if Kolar converts opportunity into consistent impact production. For a team in playoff contention, this is a measured acquisition—not overpaying, but also not a steal if upside fails to materialize.