{"id":83785,"date":"2020-03-28T18:24:37","date_gmt":"2020-03-28T22:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=83785"},"modified":"2020-03-28T18:24:37","modified_gmt":"2020-03-28T22:24:37","slug":"thoughts-los-angeles-chargers-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/03\/28\/thoughts-los-angeles-chargers-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts on the Los Angeles Chargers Free Agency Moves (So Far)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a week and a half now since free agency officially began. Much to the relief of NFL fans, this was not postponed by the COVID-19 crisis. The Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> proved to be a little more active this time compared to the last couple of years. So let\u2019s take a look at the Chargers free agency moves thus far–what they did and didn\u2019t do, and see how the roster looks now with the additions \u2013 and the departures.<\/p>\n

2020 Los Angeles Chargers Free Agency Report<\/h2>\n

Shoring up the Offensive Line<\/h3>\n

Whoever the starting quarterback is in Week 1, it currently looks to be a better offensive line than last year\u2019s. First, they traded the apparently-disgruntled Russell Okung<\/strong><\/a> to the Carolina Panthers<\/a> for Trai Turner<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 an offensive guard who\u2019s made five straight Pro Bowls. He\u2019s primarily played right guard, which the Chargers definitely needed help at. They then shored up the other \u201cright\u201d position by bringing in tackle Bryan Bulaga<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

With Mike Pouncey<\/a> <\/strong>returning at center, the biggest question mark is who is going to be playing at left tackle. The options would seem to be Trent Scott<\/strong> and Trey Pipkins<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 and right now, Pipkins seems more likely. Of course, they could move Bulaga to left tackle (he\u2019s played there before). But then they\u2019d have the same question at right tackle all over again.<\/p>\n

Still, with the additions of Turner and Bulaga and the return of Pouncey, they look to be in better shape than before when it was just Okung and Pouncey \u2013 and both spent much of the season injured.<\/p>\n

Changes to the Secondary<\/h3>\n

The biggest splash signing for the team was bringing in former Denver Broncos<\/a> cornerback Chris Harris<\/strong><\/a> Jr<\/strong>. While the secondary was already pretty good thanks to the safeties, there had still been a couple of questions at cornerback \u2013 but bringing in Harris clears up a lot of that.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting, however, is that Harris will apparently be taking Desmond King<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s spot as the slot\/nickel corner \u2013 and King will be moving to safety. As for the cornerback spot opposite Casey Hayward<\/strong><\/a>, the team placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent Michael Davis<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still an interesting move for King. Because even though they let Adrian Phillips<\/strong><\/a> walk (and this is perhaps why), they still have Derwin James<\/strong><\/a>, Nasir Adderley<\/a><\/strong>, and Rayshawn Jenkins<\/a><\/strong> already at safety. James is one of the star players and Adderley was originally expected to be a starter as well. Someone is going to be seeing less time than they may have expected \u2013 and it won\u2019t be James.<\/p>\n

Stacking the Defensive Line Even Further<\/h3>\n

One may have already fought the Chargers had plenty of good options at defensive end and tackle. Apparently. the team disagreed, because they brought in defensive tackle Linval Joseph<\/a><\/strong>, who\u2019s coming off a three-sack season. Assuming Jerry Tillery<\/a><\/strong> starts living up to his first-round billing, that could make for a terrifying defensive line across the board, with Joey Bosa<\/strong><\/a> and Melvin Ingram<\/a><\/strong> already there at pass-rusher.<\/p>\n

The Quarterback Situation<\/h3>\n

The Chargers were one of two teams that pursued Tom Brady<\/strong><\/a> when he left the New England Patriots<\/a>, but he ended up going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> instead. After that, the Chargers announced they didn\u2019t intend to pursue any more quarterbacks in free agency. That would presumably mean that the starter will be either Tyrod Taylor<\/a> <\/strong>or whoever they take in the Draft (widely predicted to be Justin Herbert<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n

That said, there is still an outside chance they may go after Cam Newton<\/strong><\/a> now that he\u2019s been released. That probably wasn\u2019t an expected outcome originally, given the Panthers looked more likely to trade him. Newton would be a big question mark given his recent injury problems, and it\u2019s very possible he may not be the same anymore. But he\u2019s still got a good ceiling and certainly more upside than Taylor. It\u2019s certainly odd regardless that at this point quarterback is the biggest question mark on a team that is pretty well set at most of the other positions.<\/p>\n

Everything Else<\/h3>\n

The Chargers did place the franchise tag on Hunter Henry<\/strong><\/a>, meaning they\u2019re still set at tight end for at least one more year. They also locked up Austin Ekeler<\/a><\/strong> after letting Melvin Gordon<\/strong><\/a> walk. They also let Travis Benjamin<\/a> <\/strong>walk, meaning there is no clear #3 receiver on the team right now. That may be something the Chargers still try to fix. There aren\u2019t many options left, but Demaryius Thomas<\/a><\/strong>, Taylor Gabriel<\/a><\/strong>, and Ted Ginn<\/a><\/strong> are all still available. There\u2019s also former XFL star Cam Phillips<\/strong><\/a>. Or maybe they\u2019ll try Dontrelle Inman<\/a><\/strong> again. Or maybe they plan to draft somebody. But it just seems unlikely they would go forward with Andre Patton<\/a><\/strong> or Jason Moore<\/strong><\/a> in the role, especially given how poorly Patton played last year.<\/p>\n

They also signed linebacker Nick Vigil<\/strong><\/a>, who was a bright spot for the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> defense last year. This is likely to be their replacement for Thomas Davis<\/a><\/strong>, whom they cut not too long before along with Brandon Mebane<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last Word on Chargers Free Agency<\/h3>\n

The Chargers made some good moves this off-season. The secondary, defensive line, and offensive line all look better. The switch between Davis and Vigil at linebacker could prove to pay off as well. And they locked up (or franchise tagged) their two biggest weapons that were free agents (Ekeler and Henry).<\/p>\n

The biggest headscratchers may be the moves they didn\u2019t make (so far). There\u2019s still a big question mark at the quarterback position, even if that may be partially solved with the Draft. And there\u2019s still a massive drop-off on the wide receiver depth chart after Keenan Allen<\/strong><\/a> and Mike Williams<\/strong><\/a>. Fans have to feel good about a lot of the moves that were made. But there\u2019s still a couple of roster questions to be answered yet.<\/p>\n

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