The Chargers had a solid offseason for the most part, acquiring veterans on both sides of the ball and drafting six players that should each have a role at some point.
However, there’s always something at the end of the offseason that many believe the team could have done differently or in addition to the roster building process.
In a recent article by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, he named each team’s biggest regret of the offseason. For Los Angeles, he believes that their biggest mistake was not adding a veteran quarterback.
The Los Angeles Chargers used the sixth overall pick in the draft on Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. While he’s viewed as more of a project than a pro-ready prospect, fans are going to want to see what he can do, which is why relying on journeyman Tyrod Taylor to hold down the starting job could be a decision the Chargers ultimately regret.
Taylor has been a serviceable starter in the past, to be sure, but he didn’t stop the Bills from moving on and drafting Josh Allen or keep Baker Mayfield on the sideline in Cleveland. He is a steady if unspectacular quarterback, and that isn’t going to satisfy fans’ desire to see Herbert on the field.
Adding a proven veteran starter like Cam Newton, Tom Brady or even Andy Dalton would probably have gotten more patience from the Los Angeles fanbase.
As things stand, Taylor is likely to be on a short leash—from the fans and local media, anyway—which could pressure head coach Anthony Lynn and his staff into putting Herbert onto the field prematurely.
After the team moved on from Rivers, many thought that the Chargers were going to add a veteran to compliment Tyrod Taylor.
In the early stages of the offseason, Los Angeles was in the running for Tom Brady. But the team fell short in the sweepstakes for Brady, who ultimately chose to sign with the Buccaneers.
Signing Brady was seen as a move that would have aided in selling tickets at their new stadium that they will start playing in this upcoming season.
Instead, L.A. was comfortable with drafting Justin Herbert in the first-round rather than going with a more flashy option for the sake of ticket sales like Cam Newton, who still remains a free agent.
While many still believe that the Chargers should have signed a veteran, the coaching staff likes the direction that they went and believe that they can have success with either one, given how talented the rest of the roster is.
If anything, the biggest regret Los Angeles may have down the road is not adding a reliable left tackle to protect the quarterback’s blindside. At the moment, Sam Tevi, Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton will be fighting for the job, all of whom don’t have a proven track record.