Los Angeles Chargers sign Cole Strange

The Chargers' decision to ink Cole Strange to a two-year, $13M deal ($6.5M AAV) with $7M guaranteed earns a C+ CVI — a fair market deal that neither moves the needle dramatically nor represents a significant overpay. At $6.5M annually, Strange is being compensated in the solid starter tier, suggesting Los Angeles views him as a reliable contributor rather than a foundational piece of their roster construction. The moderate guarantee structure ($7M of $13M total) provides the Chargers with reasonable flexibility, as they can move on after the first season without catastrophic dead money implications if Strange fails to meet expectations. This contract reflects a measured approach to addressing depth needs without overcommitting resources to an unproven commodity. The two-year term keeps Los Angeles from being locked into a long-term mistake while giving Strange enough security to establish himself in their system, making this a sensible middle-ground signing that prioritizes roster stability over upside gambling.