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The Chargers have signed Johnny Pascuzzi in free agency

The Los Angeles Chargers have had an unexpectedly busy start to the week. On Monday morning, the team signed veteran tight end David Njoku in free agency, giving quarterback Justin Herbert another trusted weapon he can target in the passing game next season.

Njoku’s addition will certainly help the offense, but as it turns out, he wasn’t the only tight end that the Chargers decided to sign on Monday. After bringing tight end Johnny Pascuzzi in for a tryout during their rookie minicamp action, Los Angeles made a final decision on his status with the team as it gears up for training camp.

Chargers Sign Johnny Pascuzzi in Free Agency

Njoku’s addition is one that should prove to be quite helpful for Herbert and the passing game. Sure, his numbers in 2025 aren’t anything to write home about (33 REC, 293 YDS, 4 TD), but the emergence of Harold Fannin Jr. cut into his playing time, and the Cleveland Browns offense as a whole was a complete mess last season.

Pascuzzi, on the other hand, is a flier for Los Angeles. After spending three years with the Iowa Hawkeyes without failing to make much of an impact, Pascuzzi transferred to the Tulane Green Wave for the 2025 season. Again, his numbers aren’t all that impressive (12 REC, 158 YDS, 1 TD), but Pascuzzi has traits that the Chargers believe can help him become a player worth having at their disposal.

While he isn’t exactly a threat in the passing game, Pascuzzi can hold his own as a blocker, which is an important trait to have at the tight end position. After he showed himself well during Los Angeles’ rookie training camp, the team opted to sign Pascuzzi in free agency, giving him a shot to carve out a role on the team ahead of the new season.

“The Chargers are signing former Tulane TE Johnny Pascuzzi after his tryout at rookie minicamp this past weekend, per source,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in a post on X.

Chargers Are Covering All of Their Bases on Offense

GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It’s pretty clear that Pascuzzi, as an undrafted free agent who only got signed after partaking in a tryout, faces long odds when it comes to making the Chargers’ roster. With Oronde Gadsden, Njoku, and Charlie Kolar leading the way at tight end, it’s tough to see how Pascuzzi will find a way to stick around with Los Angeles.

And yet, anything can happen in the NFL. In the immediate future, though, it appears more likely that Pascuzzi will be working to earn a spot on L.A.’s practice squad, which would give him a chance to develop behind the scenes and find his footing in the pros. Pascuzzi’s arrival isn’t going to drastically change things for the Chargers, but he’s another intriguing addition to the team’s new-look tight end room.