As Chargers general manager Tom Telesco is evaluating what went wrong this past season to determine how to make sure it doesn’t happen again in 2020, it won’t take him long to realize that the offensive line deserves a good chunk of the blame.
It was months before the season even began when the positional group took a hit, as starting left tackle Russell Okung had been placed on the non-football illness list. After Week 8, Okung dealt with various lower body injuries. In the end, he only played two full games.
Center Mike Pouncey sustained a neck injury in Week 5 and missed the rest of the year. Guard Forrest Lamp landed on the injured reserve a week later with a knee injury. Right tackle Sam Tevi underwent minor knee surgery in early November, forcing him to miss two critical games.
To sum this up, four offensive linemen were hit with injuries, two of them being Pro Bowlers. Whenever that happens and there’s not many reinforcements, of course it’s going to take a toll to the flow of the offense.
Likely to be a priority this offseason, all eyes are on how Telesco is going to address it to ensure they have a formidable group when they move into their new stadium.
Free agency is where Telesco has been rock solid with the position. In 2017, he signed Okung and followed that up with signing Pouncey in 2018. While many were thinking he was going to fulfill it once again last offseason, he chose not to because the free agency pool was top heavy and they didn’t have the cap space to make a signing like they did in the previous years.
This year should be completely different. At the moment, the Chargers are expected to have a little over $53 million in salary cap space, which is more than double the amount from last year.
When factoring in the notable household names needed to be re-signed and extended, including guard Michael Schofield, a good amount will go towards those players, leaving the team less than the starting amount.
But Los Angeles could choose to move on from some of their own players like wide receiver Travis Benjamin or linebacker Denzel Perryman to save some money.
If they’re in good standing with finances after dealing with their own players, they could afford to make a splash with someone like offensive tackle Jack Conklin, Mike Remmers, Kelvin Beachum among others.
Needed to add more depth along the interior part of the offensive line, the Chargers could look into someone like Max Garcia or Denzelle Good. If they hit the market, they would make out to affordable options at guard.
Getting a tackle during the first wave and a guard during the second wave of free agency would remove some pressure during the draft. Having the No. 6 overall selection means they will have some top options to choose from, but they won’t have to force it with the offensive line.
If the Chargers feel like their future face at the quarterback position is there, they shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Why not take a top offensive tackle like Andrew Thomas or Tristan Wirfs there? Because the group is one of the deepest in the entire draft and they can get a starting caliber player in Round 2 with Prince Tega Wanogho, Josh Jones, Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson or Mekhi Becton.
That would allow them to take another position of need — wide receiver, cornerback — in the following rounds. Los Angeles could round out the offensive line with a mid-late round pick with someone like Calvin Throckmorton.
That would give the Bolts four offensive linemen brought in this offseason if they were to use this approach. Offensive tackle (first wave of free agency), guard (second or third wave), tackle (second-round), tackle/guard (Day 3).
