Los Angeles Chargers sign WR Devonte Ross

Devonte Ross's three-year, $3.1M deal with the Chargers — coming in at roughly $1M AAV — earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), landing in fair-deal territory for a receiver at this level of the market, though the grade reflects more about roster-filler reality than genuine upside. At that price point, the Chargers aren't paying for a starter; they're buying a depth piece who needs to prove he belongs on a 53-man roster, and the CVI reflects the limited margin for error that comes with low-end contracts where production has to justify even a modest commitment. The lack of any reported guaranteed money is telling — this is a prove-it arrangement dressed up with modest term, giving Los Angeles an easy exit if Ross doesn't carve out a special teams or depth role through camp and the preseason. Three years of team control at this AAV is actually the most interesting element here: if Ross develops into a reliable depth option or special teams contributor, the Chargers locked him in at a bargain-level rate well below what a proven roster piece commands. With the Chargers sitting at 11-6 and holding a #7 AFC seed heading into the offseason, this is the kind of low-risk roster-building move a team makes to shore up depth without touching meaningful cap space. The CVI doesn't pop because the ceiling is inherently limited, but the structure is sound — the Chargers aren't overextended, and the downside is minimal. Expect this one to be judged entirely by what Ross does between now and final roster cuts.