With the draft in the rearview mirror and the post-draft free agent pool drying up, every team has weaknesses that likely will not be filled if they do not act quickly. The Los Angeles Chargers are just like any other NFL team in that regard, desperately in need of a few position groups. Specifically the center position. The weakest link in the entire Chargers offense is center and its depth. What happened in 2023 cannot happen again in 2024. This weak link must be addressed.
How Bad Do the Chargers Need a Center?
It felt like going into a draft class with plenty of talented center prospects that the Chargers would take at least one. That did not happen, and now are pretty stuck with what they have. Is there anyone in the room that is promising, or any external free agents to help remedy this woe?
The Current Chargers Center Room
Bradley Bozeman
As it stands currently, the Chargers only have Bradley Bozeman and Brenden Jaimes as their Centers on the roster. Coach Jim Harbaugh also praised last year’s rookie fifth-round selection, Jordan McFadden for his feet, and potential to play center. He commented “He’s got versatility…got the athleticism. He’s got the feet. He’s got the intelligence and the intangibles.” Another possible option could be Swiss Army Knife offensive lineman, UDFA, Karsen Barnhart. However, Barnhart has yet to have any correlation to playing center in his collegiate career.
#Chargers Jim Harbaugh mentioned 2nd year OL Jordan McFadden this morning as a potential fit at center. Via @danielrpopper.
“He’s got versatility. He’s got the athleticism. He’s got the feet. He’s got the intelligence and the intangibles.” pic.twitter.com/LM92uDQFJo— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) March 25, 2024
So are any of those three mentioned worth not upgraded over? Let’s start with the presumable starting center, Bradley Bozeman. Bozeman came over from Carolina, after a few successful seasons in Baltimore, former Ravens Offensive Coordinator, Greg Roman. Roman happens to be the Chargers offensive coordinator. There is familiarity and fit for the scheme for Bozeman. He furthers his case as the starter by being the oldest player in the Chargers offensive line room, bringing experience and leadership to the team. This is highly valuable considering the Chargers have one of the youngest offensive lines in all of football.
Brenden Jaimes
Moving onto the backup linemen, Brenden Jaimes was the Chargers’ fifth-round selection in 2021. During his career as a Charger, he played very limited snaps his first two seasons, playing different positions from offensive tackle to guard. He eventually found himself at center, playing 241 snaps last season after Corey Linsley and backup Will Clapp both went down with injuries/illness.
During his time starting for the Bolts in 2023, he graded out with a very poor 49.8 offensive grade, with a 39.8 run block grade. On the positive side, he had a 71.1 pass-blocking grade, only giving up four pressures and one sack in his 155 pass-blocking snaps. Jaimes will likely be nothing more than a depth option for the Chargers but should look to be replaced as he is an awful fit for this Greg Roman scheme.
Jordan McFadden
The last possible prospect on the team to play Center for the Chargers in 2024 is 2023 fifth-round selection, Jordan McFadden. The rookie last year saw plenty of playing time lining up all over the field for the Kellen Moore-led offense. He played some fullback, sixth offensive line (jumbo tight end), and had two starts at the end of 2023. Pretty solid first year for what was supposed to be a depth selection in the fifth round.
So, can he play Center and help fix this weak link? Yes… and no. As mentioned before, Coach Jim Harbaugh believes that McFadden can make the switch to Center due to his intangibles, intelligence, feet, and athleticism. McFadden was initially an offensive tackle in college but was forced into the interior at the NFL level, due to his short stature of 6’2.
The 2023 season yielded two starts at left guard for the Clemson product. His first start against the Broncos was genuinely impressive. Enough so where I thought he could be a gem. The next game, however, Chris Jones had a sack incentive for his contract. He took McFadden to the bank and cashed him in. Overall, the performance that McFadden had during his rookie season was pretty solid and could lead to some hope for the Chargers to have him be a long-term depth option at every position on the offensive line. He could also work his way as the starting center after this season, once Bozeman leaves in free agency. This would be nearly the exact path Bozeman took himself to start for the Ravens early in his career.
Center Options Available – It May Be Too Late
Connor Williams
The big fish that is left is Connor Williams formerly of the Miami Dolphins. Williams suffered a torn ACL during the 2023 season, and this his highly impacted his free agent value. At only 27 with pro-bowl-caliber play, he will likely be a high-risk, high-reward type of signing for any team interested. The Chargers are very much in the market for a center, but it is believed that they got Bozeman to start for them, and signing Williams would nullify that. The Chargers are likely to go in a different direction.
Scott Quessenberry
The direction they may go to is Scott Quessenberry. He was drafted by the team in 2018 in round five. At one point, Quessenberry was a Chargers fan favorite. He filled in nicely whenever he was asked too, under former Head Coach Anthony Lynn. Quessenberry left to play with the Houston Texans in 2022, starting for them for the majority of the season. However, he did not play very well in the Pep Hamilton scheme, grading out with a 36.6 overall PFF grade. This ranked last out of all Centers with 900+ snaps in 2022. Scott Quessenberry is also coming off a major knee injury, tearing his ACL and MCL in 2023.
Why would the Chargers want to bring him back? It’s as simple as experienced depth, with familiarity with the team. The Chargers outside of Bozeman are a very young offensive line group, and Quessenberry will be an experienced depth that can help teach up the younger McFadden and Jaimes.
Connor McGovern
The last notable free agent available for the Chargers to address their center need is Connor McGovern. This pickup would be the most fitting for the bolts, as he brings nearly everything you could ask for, considering what is left on the market. McGovern played 371 snaps for the Jets last season at center, recording a 48.5 overall PFF blocking grade. This is not impressive, but he was a mainstay starter for majority of his career, and having over 5,900 career snaps to your name is something to write home about.
McGovern would be a cheap, veteran option with plenty of in-game experience. He fits nicely with the offensive scheme, giving the Chargers a perfect depth option for 2023. If Bozeman goes down, you have the perfect option to replace him. You cannot have the dropoff of Corey Linsley to Will Clapp to Brenden Jaimes once again in 2024.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
