{"id":58108,"date":"2019-02-08T21:09:37","date_gmt":"2019-02-09T02:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=58108"},"modified":"2019-02-08T21:09:37","modified_gmt":"2019-02-09T02:09:37","slug":"los-angeles-chargers-jason-verrett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/02\/08\/los-angeles-chargers-jason-verrett\/","title":{"rendered":"The Los Angeles Chargers Should Move on From Jason Verrett"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> got an exciting first-round pick in 2014 for their secondary when they selected Jason Verrett<\/a>.<\/strong> As a cornerback, he was undersized but didn\u2019t play like it. Even at 5\u201910, he was generally able to keep up with receivers who were typically taller than him. He had a certain ferocity to his playing style. However, he\u2019s struggled a lot with injuries over the course of his career. He\u2019s a free agent this offseason, but the Chargers probably shouldn\u2019t re-sign him.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Time for the Los Angeles Chargers to Let Jason Verrett Go\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

A Promising Start\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Verrett had some injury issues from the very start of his career. He only played six games in his rookie season. However, he showed some promise during that time, highlighted by pulling down a game-winning interception against Derek\u00a0Carr<\/strong>\u00a0and the Oakland Raiders<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2015 was really the only year that Verrett ever played even close to a full season (14 games). However, it was a good year and probably part of the reason why the Chargers have held onto him; because at least for that year, he lived up to his first-round billing. He had three interceptions including a pick-six and 47 tackles, and ultimately made his only Pro Bowl appearance as a result.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Injury Bug\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

2016 was the year things began to take a turn for the worse for Verrett, health-wise. He played only four games before having surgery for a partially torn ACL in a season in which Chargers players were dropping like flies early in the season. Verrett came back in 2017, but only played all of one game (with just one tackle) before having knee surgery once again and missing the rest of the season. He didn\u2019t even manage that much in 2018, as he tore his Achilles on the first day of training camp and missed the whole season.<\/p>\n

To sum that last paragraph up: Verrett has only played *five games in the last three years,* and only *one in the last two.* It\u2019s unfortunate for Verrett that he has become this injury-prone. But with that kind of recent record, how are the Chargers supposed to depend on him? The risk of bringing him back is very high. The only way that bringing back Verrett would be a good idea for the Chargers at this point would be if it were on a one-year \u201cprove it\u201d deal. And that deal probably wouldn\u2019t be worth much either. Verrett would be kind of fortunate to even get that at this point.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chargers Without Verrett\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Obviously, the Chargers have had to try at getting a good #2 cornerback out there opposite Casey Hayward<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 for a couple years now. The efforts were a little shaky, but they have some options for who they want to go forward with (assuming they don\u2019t draft somebody new or sign a free agent). They started out with Trevor Williams<\/a>,<\/strong> who\u2019s a little inconsistent but has made some good plays now and then. There\u2019s also Desmond King<\/a><\/strong>, who is\u00a0pretty clearly\u00a0the second-best cornerback, but the Chargers seem to prefer having him as a slot\/nickel corner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s Michael Davis<\/a><\/strong>. He was the main starter opposite Hayward after Williams got put on injured reserve himself late in the season. Davis\u2019s play in his rookie year preseason in 2017 did not inspire confidence at all. It was kind of astounding that he even made the final roster. However, he\u00a0actually had\u00a0some surprisingly good moments down the stretch of the 2018 season and in the playoffs. He has yet to pull down an interception, but he did force a fumble and put up 40 tackles. It\u2019s hard to say whether he truly is starter material at this point, but he\u2019s worth keeping an eye on as he\u2019s already made some impressive strides from his earliest days. It\u2019s worth mentioning that Williams is also a free agent (though a restricted one).\u00a0So\u00a0the Chargers will have some decisions to make.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last Word\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Verrett was a good draft pick by the Chargers. Unfortunately, one couldn\u2019t have predicted that he would have this much trouble staying healthy. Given how little he\u2019s been able to suit up the last three years and that he\u2019s a free agent now, it\u2019s time for the Chargers to move on. They\u2019ve already had to cycle through other cornerbacks in the wake of Verrett\u2019s repeated injuries. It\u2019s time for them to plan like he\u2019s not going to be there.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>