Los Angeles Chargers sign OLB Niles King

Niles King's three-year, $3.1M deal with the Los Angeles Chargers earns a fair-deal designation on the Contract Value Index (CVI), landing at C+ — functional depth value at a price that doesn't strain the roster budget. At roughly $1M AAV, this is a minimum-range contract for a backup outside linebacker, and the Chargers are essentially acquiring a depth piece and special-teams candidate without committing meaningful cap space. The CVI reflects the reality that King profiles as a roster-filler or fringe contributor rather than a scheme-impactful starter, and the contract is priced accordingly — there's no premium being paid for upside that isn't clearly established. The three-year length is worth noting, as it gives the organization roster flexibility to evaluate King through training camp and the preseason without a long-term obligation that could clutter the depth chart down the line. With the Chargers sitting at 11-6 and holding the No. 7 seed in the AFC heading into a 124-day runway before the 2026 regular season, these offseason depth signings carry real stakes — you want your 53-man built with purpose, not placeholder names. King's deal doesn't move the needle in either direction for Los Angeles, but at this dollar figure, the CVI suggests the Chargers aren't overpaying for what they're getting — and in a league where roster construction inefficiencies compound quickly, that's about the best you can say for a depth signing at this tier.