Two months into the offseason and the Chargers have done a fine job of reconstructing a roster under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.
For the most part, each position group has quality starters followed by depth, but Los Angeles’ situation at safety still remains a bit shaky.
Prior to the draft, there were only three players at the position – Derwin James, Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman. The team added two more; Mark Webb, a seventh-round pick and Ben DeLuca, an undrafted free agent.
James will be returning from his second lengthy injury that he’s suffered with the Chargers since being drafted in 2018.
Even though can Staley unlock Adderley’s potential in 2021, he’s still coming off a rough sophomore season.
Gilman doesn’t offer much position flexibility.
Webb, the wide receiver convert, didn’t start playing on the defensive side of the ball until 2017.
It’s easy to think that L.A. will have a dynamic defense with James on the field, but considering he’s only played five games in total the past two seasons, the team can’t consider it a complete guarantee.
In addition, under Staley, this will be a defense that relies heavily on their defensive backs.
Bradley McDougald, Bobby McCain, Malik Hooker, Adrian Colbert, Andrew Sendejo, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro and D.J. Swearinger are just to name a few free agent safeties that could be brought in on one-year deals.
The Chargers banking on what they have at the position isn’t surprising, knowing that Staley is capable of getting the most out of his defensive players.
However, for a team that has been hit with the injury bug for years now, they should know that having more might actually be better.