The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s discuss the Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers
Key acquisitions: DE Khalil Mack, CB J.C. Jackson, DT Austin Johnson, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, TE Gerald Everett, LB Troy Reeder, WR DeAndre Carter, LS Josh Harris, P J.K. Scott
Re-signed: WR Mike Williams, K Dustin Hopkins, DT Christian Covington, QB Chase Daniel
Departures: OT Bryan Bulaga, OLB Uchenna Nwosu (Raiders), DT Justin Jones (Bears), LB Kyzir White (Eagles), OLB Kyler Fackrell (Raiders), C Scott Quessenberry (Texans), TE Stephen Anderson (Cardinals)
Remaining free agents: CB Chris Harris Jr., DT Linval Joseph, TE Jared Cook, RB Justin Jackson, G Senio Kelemete, WR Andre Roberts, G Michael Schofield, G Oday Aboushi, CB Davontae Harris
Analysis: One of the biggest winners of the offseason is the Los Angeles Chargers. This team has kinda flown under the radar when it comes to free agency, but they finally have a team to be excited about and are ready to contend with Justin Herbert still on his rookie deal. To take advantage of this opportunity, the team made huge signings and a big trade to beef up the defense.
In an offseason with filled with insane trades, this one would’ve been the biggest trade of any other offseason, but this is ranked like fifth. The Chargers acquired pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Bears for a second- and a sixth-round pick. The Pro Bowler is back in the AFC West after four years in Chicago, and will team up with fellow Pro Bowler Joey Bosa to form a dangerous pass rush, and is an upgrade over second-leading sacker Uchenna Nwosu, who signed with the Raiders.
The big free agent signing for the Chargers was expected in the weeks leading up to free agency, and the rumors turned out to the true. Former Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract, making him one of the highest-paid players at his position. Jackson came into the league as an undrafted free agent and developed into a starting cornerback in just two seasons, then became a household name and a Pro Bowler with a reputation of a ballhawk (25 interceptions over four seasons) and a shutdown corner (league-leading 23 pass deflections in 2021). He joins a secondary led by Derwin James and Nasir Adderley at safety and Michael Davis and Asante Samuel at cornerback.
Couple big guys added to the defensive front in Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. SJD was a full-time starter the last three seasons and gets a three-year deal. Johnson had been a rotational guy most of his career with the Titans and in 2020 with the Giants, but he had a career year last season in New York with 17 starts and career-highs across the board. He gets a two-year deal to start alongside Joseph-Day and Jerry Tillery. Both players easily make up for the loss of Justin Jones, who signed with the Bears.
Also signed from the Rams is linebacker Troy Reeder, who was nontendered as a restricted free agent. He joins a loaded linebacker group with Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill and will help with the loss of leading tackler Kyzir White to the Eagles.
A couple new weapons added to the offense are tight end Gerald Everett and wide receiver DeAndre Carter, along with the big extension to Mike Williams. Everett has shown flashes as an athletic tight end, but hasn’t been consistent with the Rams or Seahawks, but is hoping to build chemistry with Justin Herbert. The team missed Hunter Henry last year, and Jared Cook was not the answer, so they’re hoping Everett can be a reliable redzone target so he doesn’t just go to Williams and Keenan Allen. Carter is a solid slot receiver who’s bounced around the league as a special teamer, but started to make a name for himself last year with Washington. He’ll likely compete for the WR5 spot behind Allen, Williams, Jalen Guyton, and Josh Palmer. I was very excited about the Williams extension as the team needs him as he was Herbert’s favorite down-field target in 2021 and really improved as the years went on and he stayed healthy. Allen is still the guy, but Williams is right there with him.
Conclusion: The Chargers are good, and I’m excited. They got their franchise quarterback and he is a damn good one. They did it right by staying under the radar and slowly adding the pieces and developing their team, and now that the division just got competitive, it was time to strike and get the final pieces and really put together a playoff-caliber roster. All the pieces are there, a great offense, a decent o-line highlighted by rookie sensation Rashawn Slater, and a defense that is looking nasty. Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, J.C. Jackson, Derwin James, Kenneth Murray, Asante Samuel, Sebastian Joseph-Day, its incredible. I cannot wait to watch AFC West games in 2022, it’s must watch television, and the Chargers are a main attraction.
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