The Chargers have been steadily building their roster, signing four players, primarily along the offensive line and bringing back a couple of their own.
Even though general manager Tom Telesco has done a nice job at piecing together a solid foundation in the early stages, there’s still plenty of work needed to be done.
With that being said, here’s a ranking of the Bolts’ five biggest needs following the first wave of free agency:
1. Left tackle
If the Chargers wish to get the most out of quarterback Justin Herbert, they need to protect him at all costs. At the moment, Trey Pipkins is penciled in as the starter. Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick of 2019, has shown flashes but he’s still quite a bit away from being relied on in that role. Los Angeles also has Storm Norton on the roster, but he I believe he is nothing more than a swing option. Therefore, they need to find a franchise left tackle, which I expect to be addressed with their first-round pick.
2. Cornerback
One of the biggest priorities for L.A. was re-signing Michael Davis, which they took care of. But even after making the move, the team still has a void to fill after releasing Casey Hayward. The Bolts still have Chris Harris, Jr. as the other starter and even though they re-signed Brandon Facyson, I don’t think he’s ready to step in as a permanent starter. Given how vital the position is in Brandon Staley’s system, they need more talent.
3. Edge defender
In Staley’s defense, outside linebackers are also important. With Melvin Ingram gone, there’s not much else on the roster outside of Uchenna Nwosu. The Chargers could benefit from an external option still, but they should be looking to address it on the second day of the draft, likely with one of their two third-round picks.
4. Safety
After the loss of Rayshawn Jenkins, there are only three safeties on the roster: Derwin James, Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman. The Chargers might be banking on Staley maximizing Adderley’s skillset in 2021 after a rough sophomore season, but given the fact that head coach Brandon Staley likes to roll with three safeties on the field, the team will be looking to add another one.
5. Guard
Los Angeles found their two probable starters in Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi. However, the depth behind them is practically nonexistent. For a team that has dealt with the injury bug up front, they could benefit from a low-cost free agent signing and a draft pick or two to solidify the group for the upcoming season.