Los Angeles Chargers sign LB Emany Johnson

The Los Angeles Chargers' signing of linebacker Emany Johnson earns a B+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a sound depth acquisition that doesn't strain the salary cap but also doesn't move the needle on a playoff-positioned roster. At $1.03M AAV, this is a replacement-level linebacker contract — the kind of deal you see teams use to fill third-level linebacker depth or provide insurance against injury at the position. The modest cap hit makes this low-risk from a financial architecture standpoint; the Chargers are committing minimal guaranteed resources to a player who fits a rotational or reserve role rather than an every-down contributor. CVI reflects the straightforward economics here: the salary floor is appropriately scaled to the player's likely usage tier, and there's no dead-cap complexity or future-year obligations that create leverage problems down the road. This is the type of off-the-radar transaction that doesn't generate headlines but reinforces a team's depth chart discipline — valuable for playoff rosters that need flexible roster spots and cannot afford bottom-rung cap waste, though it's equally a sign the Chargers are not swinging for an immediate upgrade at the position.