Could quarterback Philip Rivers be joining head coach Bruce Arians and company?
Whether or not the 2019 season marked quarterback Philip Rivers’ last season in a Chargers uniform still remains to be seen. But there is one team that’s already anticipating that being the case.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been listed as a potential landing spot for Rivers, could very well end up being the team he suits up for in 2020. According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the Bucs are showing legitimate interest in the veteran signal-caller.
The Philip Rivers rumors aren’t circulating just because Rivers and his family moved to Florida. League sources say the Bucs’ interest in the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback is legitimate, although Rivers has been plagued by many of the same issues that Winston has — interceptions. He has thrown 198 picks since 2004, third most of any player in that span. He also has thrown the second-most interceptions over the past five seasons (76), behind only Winston’s 88.
Rivers moved his family from California to Florida last month, which left many with the impression that he would sign with a team in the same state. But he said that the move football-wise is to be determined, and just wanted to move his family closer to home since he’s from the south.
Tampa Bay remains in a limbo with their current starting quarterback, Jameis Winston as he’s been a model of inconsistency and they could elect to move on from him. If so, the Bucs would be a team that could benefit from Rivers’ services, and he could serve as a bridge (assuming they draft a QB).
Coach Bruce Arians, who has praised Rivers many times in the past, has a lot of success working with veteran quarterbacks. If the 38-year old was to join Tampa Bay, he would have a handful of talented skill players, including wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and tight end O.J. Howard.
The Los Angeles Chargers rank near the middle of the pack to win Super Bowl 55.
Heading into the offseason about a year ago, the Los Angeles Chargers had the sixth-best odds to win Super LIV.
The team fell well short of those odds and many people’s expectations, finishing with an underwhelming 5-11 record. Injuries, a mid-season coaching change and in-game woes that saw nine of their 11 losses be determined by seven points or less hindered them.
With the 2019 season officially over, it’s time to look forward to 2020. At the moment, the Bolts are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders with the 15th-best odds to win Super Bowl LV, per BetMGM.
It’s not all that surprising that L.A. ranks near the middle of the pack. Even though they still possess a talented roster, there are a slew of key players that will be free agents, including quarterback Philip Rivers.
It’s hard to gauge where the team will stand when the man under center remains to be seen. It could be Philip Rivers (if he’s re-signed), Tyrod Taylor, a rookie or even a free agent.
Not only that, but the Chargers also need to address the offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle corps to ensure they have enough ammo to go toe-to-toe with AFC West rival and Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs.
If Los Angeles nails their offseason, those odds will likely increase prior to the 2020 regular season.
Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga would be a great signing for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has had a knack for finding some gems via free agency – offensive tackle Russell Okung, center Mike Pouncey and cornerback Casey Hayward.
Los Angeles enters this offseason with the most salary cap space they’ve had since Telesco took over in 2013 ($56,245 million). That means the team could be in a prime position to acquire one or two big-name free agents.
In need of shoring up the offensive line, there will be a few options that should bring some intrigue, depending on whether or not they decide to re-sign with their original team.
For Pro Football Focus, offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga is the soon-to-be free agent that the Bolts need to pursue this offseason.
The Chargers’ offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL in pass-protection last year, ranking 31st in PFF pass-blocking grade. They need fresh veteran faces, and right tackle Bryan Bulaga is the perfect fit. Bulaga has routinely been one of the best right tackles in pass-protection in his career. In each of his full seasons since 2014, Bulaga has ranked among the 10 best right tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade, with three ranking in the top three.
No matter who is behind center next season, making sure that quarterback is kept clean is an absolute must. Bulaga is a proven right tackle that would be able to aid in the pass protection department.
Watch Elgton Jenkins. Recovers after getting beat and then effortlessly makes the switch on the stunt
Watch Bryan Bulaga. Runs 98 completely out of the play, opens up the extended play opportunity
Bulaga, who started all regular season games in 2019, ranked No. 21 in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency (97.2), which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap.
Bulaga has started 111 of the 115 games he has played. An injured hip forced him to miss seven games in 2012. He then missed the 2013 season after tearing his right ACL in training camp and 11 games in 2017 after tearing his left ACL.
Since the knee injury three seasons ago, Bulaga has managed to stay on the field. When he is playing, he is a dominant force – shutting down the league’s best pass rushers.
Bulaga, 30, is coming off a five-year, $33 million contract, but his new deal is expected to cost more annually. He could command a little north of $10 million per year, which calculates the market value of his next contract to be three years and about $30.4 million, per Spotrac.
It may seem like a decent amount of money, but given how much of a need it is to fulfill the position, giving one of the league’s best right tackles that type of paycheck could pay huge dividends.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out three of the biggest offseason storylines for the Los Angeles Chargers.
As the final days of the 2019 season wind down, it’s almost time to officially shift the spotlight toward the offseason.
With that, here are the three storylines that will dominate for the Chargers leading up into it:
What’s in store for the quarterback position?
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Could the 2020 regular season mark the first time that the Chargers have a different starting quarterback since 2006? With Philip Rivers set to be an unrestricted free agent, it’s very possible that Los Angeles could have a new signal-caller.
Rivers has suggested that he still wants to play, but that he was still going to go over his options with his family when the season concluded. The 38-year old is coming off a year where he tossed 20 interceptions.
Though he was plagued by inconsistency on the offensive line, his arm strength and decision-making was still questionable, drawing some questions in regards to whether or not he can still play at a high level next season and beyond.
Should the Bolts decide to move on from Rivers, Tyrod Taylor would likely begin Week 1 as the starting quarterback and the bridge to the rookie – assuming they choose to take one in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL draft, with options at the top like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert or Jordan Love.
No matter what route they go, the Chargers need to determine what their future is going to look like there at the position.
The Los Angeles Chargers have three of the top-50 free agents heading into the offseason.
We still have a couple of months until the new league year begins in the middle of March, but everyone is already gearing up for what will be one of the most enticing offseasons for the Chargers in the last decade.
While there are a number of players from other teams that look like good bait to sign during the free agency period, Los Angeles will have a handful of in-house names that are intriguing other teams that they will have to decide on.
ESPN released their top-50 free agents to hit the market, and the Bolts had three players listed: tight end Hunter Henry, quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon.
Checking in at No. 9 is Henry:
Henry returned to full strength after a torn ACL cost him the 2018 season, catching 55 passes for 652 yards — both career-highs. The dynamic role of tight ends in today’s offenses suggests he will be highly sought-after if he reaches the market. The Patriots, in particular, seem like an obvious team of interest.
Henry should be a priority for general manager Tom Telesco. Though he has been hindered by a couple knee injuries, he is a difference-maker in the passing game and he is arguably one of the better blockers on the team. It wouldn’t be surprising if Henry becomes the highest-paid tight end in the league.
Seven spots after Henry is Rivers at No. 16:
Rivers slipped in his 16th season, finishing No. 22 in QBR (48.9), and his teary Week 17 postgame press conference suggested he is ready and willing to move on. It’s not outlandish to think he could put a playoff-ready team over the top. Remember, Brett Favre was 39 when he signed with the Vikings in 2009.
All eyes are on the 38-year old during this period. Rivers is coming off one of his worst seasons yet, and it just so happened to occur on a contract year, giving the team some pause in regards to his future. While some of it falls on the offensive line carousel throughout the season, there were clear signs of regression in terms of his arm strength and decision-making.
Lastly, is Gordon, who checks in at No. 24:
The Chargers’ decision to stand firm during Gordon’s 2019 holdout, and Gordon’s career-low 612 rushing yards upon his return, seem to suggest a parting of ways this offseason. Gordon did manage to rush for eight touchdowns, and his total of 26 over the past three seasons ranks No. 6 in the NFL. His holdout reduced the mileage on his body, but at least some teams will view him as an aging running back whose best years have passed.
Gordon spent last offseason and a few games into the 2019 regular season holding out in hopes of receiving a new paycheck. That was never granted, so he decided to return to show his worth. He finished the season with 612 rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry) and nine total touchdowns.
It was an up-and-down year for the former Wisconsin product, but durability concerns still loom and the emergence of running backs Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson could justify the team’s decision to move on from him this offseason.
Cornerback Byron Jones would be the perfect addition to round out the Los Angeles Chargers secondary.
The Chargers will have the most salary cap space since general manager Tom Telesco took over in 2013. The team will have a few of their in-house players to take care of – but with some wheeling and dealing they should have enough to make some big signings in free agency.
Should Los Angeles choose to be aggressive during the free agency period, one player that could catch their attention to fill the cornerback spot opposite of Casey Hayward is Byron Jones.
Pro Football Focus recognized the Chargers as a possible landing spot for Jones, given the positional need and the fact that Jones has flourished in a Cover 3 system – which is what defensive coordinator Gus Bradley runs.
A move to cornerback rejuvenated Jones’ career in 2018, as he showed that he could play single coverage on the outside at a high level. He finished with the 14th-best coverage grade among corners in 2018 (80.4) before dropping to 21st in 2019 (74.8), but those are extremely valuable numbers as he hits the open market. Many will point to Jones not picking off a pass over the last two years, but his 74.1 coverage grade in single coverage is 11th-best during that time, and he has also shown the ability to match up against tight ends when called upon. Jones brings youth and coverage ability to the open market, making him the top defensive free agent heading into the offseason.
Jones, 27, would bring another veteran presence to the defense that the Chargers value greatly. Coming off a 46 tackle campaign and after producing 15 passes defensed with the fourth-best forced incompletion rate of any cornerback, Jones would be welcomed to the City of Angels with open arms.
Like Hayward, Jones isn’t going to tally the interception column on the stat sheet, but he is a reliable cover man on the outside. Jones also offers some positional flexibility as he played a little bit of safety during his tenure with the Cowboys – which is something Bradley likes in his defensive backs.
Los Angeles still has Michael Davis, who has been decent in the starting role and Brandon Facyson, who hasn’t had that much playing time as a starter, but has shown promise. But the team could benefit immensely from adding a talented corner like Jones.
The Chargers might be better off using that money available to shore up the offensive line, and address the cornerback position in the draft. But given the fact that they will have more money than recent years, Telesco could very well look to shore up the secondary by adding the 27-year old corner.
Would the Los Angeles Chargers be interested in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater?
The quarterback market via free agency is set to be the deepest that it is has been in recent years.
With the Chargers uncertain at the position, given the fact that Philip Rivers’ future with the team remains to be seen, they could very well elect to go fishing in the pool to find a signal-caller.
Should they go this route, Bleacher Report’s Chris Roling believes that soon-to-be free agent Teddy Bridgewater and Los Angeles would be an ideal pairing.
If the Los Angeles Chargers don’t stick with Philip Rivers after his dip in play this past season, picking sixth in the 2020 draft might put them on the outside looking in at the top prospects.
Bridgewater might have a hard time saying no here, too, should the Chargers use some of that money earmarked for Rivers in the $56 million available in cap space.
While the Chargers stumbled to just five wins this year in a stunning downturn, Bridgewater would join an offense with a deep stable of running backs, a big-play tight end in Hunter Henry and perhaps most important of all, Keenan Allen, arguably the quietest No. 1 wideout in the league. It doesn’t hurt to point out a defense simmering with elite talent like Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III.
Keep in mind that if Bridgewater joined up, he’d benefit from the high draft slots and cap space, assets only adding to the wealth of talent around him. There’s a bit of a drawback in terms of fan attachment after the franchise moved, but it might also be hard to complain about playing in a city like Los Angeles, right?
Bridgewater, 27, is going to be a hot commodity if the Saints don’t re-sign him. The former Louisville product filled in for veteran Drew Brees this past season when he was dealing with a thumb injury, showing to be efficient in that role. Bridgewater started five games and led New Orleans to a perfect 5-0 record. In that span, he threw nine touchdowns to just two interceptions.
According to Spotrac, Bridgewater’s projected market value will command a salary of $20 million per season. If the Chargers felt comfortable with throwing him that kind of money, they would be signing him with the belief that he could be the starter for years to come.
The Chargers will be looking at every option possible to fill in the void at the quarterback position, but the more reasonable and cheaper route to go rather than throwing a hefty check at a free agent is drafting a quarterback in the early rounds and letting Tyrod Taylor serve as the bridge – assuming they don’t choose to re-sign Rivers.
General manager Tom Telesco should look to throw his money at these soon-to-be free agents.
The Los Angeles Chargers enter this offseason with the most salary cap space that they’ve had in years.
Even though L.A. has to use a good chunk of that money to re-sign a few of their own players, along with possibly extending a notable – defensive end Joey Bosa, they should look to bring in some external free agents to ensure they’re in the most optimal position to make a run in 2020 – even if that means breaking the bank.
It wouldn’t be like general manager Tom Telesco to go on a free agency frenzy, but he said in his end-of-season press conference that this is probably the most cap space that they’ve had since he has been there, so it could be suggesting that he might be the most aggressive that he’s been since taking over in 2013.
Should Telesco and company look to bring in some big-time free agents that might require a hefty paycheck, then these are four additions that we’d advocate for.
G Brandon Scherff
Scherff, the three-time Pro Bowler, has started in every game he has played in since his rookie year in 2015, and he has played 100% of the offensive snaps in all but eight of his 65 games. A wall in pass protection and a mover in the run blocking department, Scherff allowed one sack, nine hurries, and 10 overall pressures last season. The former Iowa product has battled through some injuries throughout his career, but he has overcame them and has managed to continue to still play at a high level. Scherff would be an immediate plug-and-play guard on the left side, taking over Dan Feeney, assuming that Michael Schofield is re-signed. Spotrac has his estimated value at a four-year, $50 million deal.
OT Jack Conklin
Conklin, the 25-year old tackle, became an All-Pro as a rookie, but tore his ACL during the 2018 playoffs. He has allowed just 9.5 sacks in his four-year stint since being selected in the first-round of the 2016 NFL draft. In the 2019 regular season, he allowed two sacks, finishing with a streak of 11-straight games without one allowed. With the Chargers have a major need at the right tackle position, Conklin would be an immediate upgrade over Sam Tevi. Spotrac has his estimated value at a six-year, $89 million deal.
CB James Bradberry
The Chargers could shore up their secondary by adding a talented player opposite of CB Casey Hayward. Hayward was acquired via free agency and Telesco could make another splash by looking in the pool to find one of the league’s most underrated corners. At the age of 26, Bradberry is entering his prime. He defended nine passes along with a career-high three interceptions this past season. His best season came in 2018 when he defended 15 passes, posted two interceptions, forced a fumble and recorded a sack. Los Angeles wouldn’t necessarily have to go broke to acquire him – but based on his production in recent seasons he wouldn’t be that cheap, either.
WR Robby Anderson
The Chargers are missing one piece to the wide receiver room. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have proven themselves, but the guys behind them failed to step up as WR3. The wide receiver should and most likely will be addressed in the draft since there is plenty of talent in this year’s class – but Anderson would give Los Angeles something that they were hoping to get out of Travis Benjamin – a fast, vertical threat that could keep defenses honest. He’s never surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in a single season, but he is averaging 14.8 yards per reception. With this wide receiver group in free agency set to be rather thin, his asking price is likely to be somewhere in the ballpark of Tyrell Williams’ (four-year, $44 million)
A quick glance at some offensive tackles the Chargers could look to sign in free agency.
The offensive tackle position will be a focal point for the Chargers this offseason. General manager Tom Telesco, who has a knack for addressing the group via free agency, will have plenty of options to choose from.
Here is a look at 12 players that could bring some intrigue to Los Angeles when the NFL free agent negotiating window opens on March 16, with signings allowed to start on March 18.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez has the perfect offseason gift for the Los Angeles Chargers at each position of need.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
In the spirit of the holiday season and the offseason coming up, we decided to gift the Los Angeles with the most ideal acquisition at each position of need, using the 2020 NFL draft and free agency as our outlets.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Quarterback — Tua Tagavailoa
Some fans are going to view this as a gift, while others will consider it coal because of the durability concerns with Tua. With teams in front of them like the Dolphins that will be in the market for the quarterback, it’s not guaranteed that he will be there when they are picking. But if he is, it should almost be a no-brainer.
Tagavailoa is a perfect fit for the Bolts as they start a new journey in SoFi Stadium. With the desire to bring fans to the stadium, Tua would do just that since he has been one of the most polarizing players in college football. Since he probably won’t be able to play much in his rookie campaign, he would be able to sit in Year 1, whether that be behind Philip Rivers or Tyrod Taylor and then take the reins in his second season.
Offensive tackle — Jack Conklin
The Chargers will be looking to add a long-term option at the right tackle position to replace Sam Tevi. Tom Telesco has a track record of finding gems along offensive line via free agency, and this would be an absolute home run.
Conklin, who is in the prime of his career, has allowed just 9.5 sacks in his four-year stint since being selected in the first-round of the 2016 NFL draft. In 2019, he’s allowed two sacks, but is currently on a streak of 11-straight games without one allowed.
Cornerback — James Bradberry
The Chargers could shore up their secondary by adding a stud opposite of CB Casey Hayward. Hayward was acquired via free agency and Telesco could make another splash by looking in the pool to find one of the league’s most underrated corners.
At the age of 26, Bradberry is entering his prime. He has defended nine passes along with a career-high three interceptions this season. His best season came in 2018 when he defended 15 passes, posted two interceptions, forced a fumble and recorded a sack.
Let’s say the Chargers are able to cross off the offensive tackle and cornerback position with those two acquisitions, they would then be able to find a talented wideout in the draft as early as Round 2. Insert the yards after the catch king.
Aiyuk, the 6-foot and 203 pounder is a speedster who is able to create when the ball is in his hands. He possesses the breakaway skills and balance to zip right past defenders that are in pursuit, which is exactly the type of player Los Angeles would love to add to an already talented wide receiver corps.
Jayden Daniels launched it out to Brandon Aiyuk for the 81-yard TD to stun Oregon 🔥
Nose tackle Brandon Mebane is close to calling it quits, which means that they will have to find his successor. Fotu would be a solid addition in the mid-rounds to add to an interior defensive line that’s still a work in progress.
Fotu, the 6-foot-5 and 325 pound defensive tackle has the speed, power, length, body control and mismatch ability to cause fits for NFL interior offensive linemen, where he would aid in the run defense department.
Leki Fotu forces the Oline to stay on the double! You can't leave Leki until he's off the line or just tied up with 2 blockers. That's what makes him so dominant. You have to stay on the double! That leaves LBs free to play. When you leave the double, Leki makes you pay! pic.twitter.com/aUuS3Xpr73
The Chargers love to find athletic offensive linemen that have the ability to play both inside and outside. Throckmorton, the 6-foot-5 and 318 pounder, would be the perfect mid-round addition to an offensive line that will be under construction.
Throckmorton, who has played every single position except left guard for the Ducks, is a powerful player who has solid pass protection technique, an anchor and the toughness to be a consistent starter in the league by Year 2.
