HEADLINE
Chargers Part Ways with Veteran Offensive Lineman Ben Cleveland Ahead of Training Camp
OPENING HOOK
Football roster management is a relentless business where past draft pedigree offers no guarantees, as veteran lineman Ben Cleveland discovered upon his sudden release.
WHAT HAPPENED
The Los Angeles Chargers have officially released veteran offensive lineman Ben Cleveland. The roster move was confirmed as teams finalize their squad numbers ahead of upcoming training camp sessions, successfully clearing a valuable space on the franchise's current 90-man offseason player limit.
WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS
Ben Cleveland is a 27-year-old professional American football player who plays as an offensive lineman—a position responsible for protecting the quarterback and blocking for runners. The Baltimore Ravens originally drafted him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft as the 94th overall pick. Aaron Wilson, a prominent National Football League insider and reporter, initially broke the news of the transaction.
UNDERSTANDING THE LOCATION
Los Angeles, California, serves as the home base for the Chargers franchise. The team conducts its training camp operations and organizational business within the Southern California region, preparing for the grueling competitive demands of the American football calendar.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Cleveland spent the initial four seasons of his professional career with the Baltimore Ravens organization following his collegiate days. The Chargers later added him to their practice squad—a developmental group of players who train with the team but typically do not play in regular-season games—late last season before signing him to a reserve/future contract in January 2026. His recent tenure in Los Angeles concluded prematurely following a three-game suspension toward the end of the 2025 season for violating the league's substance policies.
EXPLAINING IMPORTANT REFERENCES
A "90-man roster" refers to the maximum number of players an NFL franchise is permitted to carry during the offseason and early training camp periods before mandated roster cuts trim the squad down for the regular season. A "practice squad" provides developing athletes a chance to hone their skills under coaching supervision while earning a weekly salary.
IMPACT ANALYSIS
For the Chargers, cutting ties with Cleveland provides immediate roster flexibility, allowing coaching and front office staff to evaluate alternative prospects during intensive training camp drills. For Cleveland, entering the player market in the middle of the offseason requires quick adaptation to secure a spot with another franchise before the competitive season kicks off.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
As training camp gets underway, the Chargers will utilize the newly opened roster spot to test fresh talent or depth options. Cleveland will navigate the free-agent market, seeking a new opportunity to demonstrate his blocking capabilities to other interested clubs.
HERO PERSPECTIVE
Following a 2025 season interrupted by a three-game suspension for violating league substance policies, 27-year-old Ben Cleveland finds himself back on the open market after the Los Angeles Chargers waived him to free up a 90-man roster spot ahead of training camp. Having originally entered the league as the 94th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, the offensive lineman must now prove his durability and value to a new locker room. This transaction highlights how quickly front offices adjust their depth charts when player availability and squad limits intersect during critical offseason windows.
CLOSING
Squad adjustments will continue across the league as coaching staffs finalize their rosters for the challenges of the upcoming football campaign.