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Chargers general manager Tom Telesco could be prioritizing these eight players.
While all the attention is shifted to who the Chargers could sign in free agency, there’s also a crop of in-house players that general manager Tom Telesco will have to decide on when the new league year begins in March.
It’s unclear how many of these players the team will be able to keep, but they will have to be selective during the process.
With that being said, I’ve ranked them in order, from least likely to be re-signed to most likely.
Who will Chargers general manager Tom Telesco bring back next season?
The Chargers enter this offseason with 17 players who will be unrestricted free agents, and everyone knows that the team can’t keep everyone.
The good news for Los Angeles is that they have the salary-cap space to ensure that they’re able to keep some of them, as they’re estimated to have a little over $23 million in estimated cap space.
So who will return this upcoming season?
It all starts with the top free agent not only on the team but among the entire league, with that being tight end Hunter Henry.
Henry, who played on the franchise tag this past season, proved that he’s worthy of receiving a long-term extension.
There have been some concerns over Henry’s injuries, but he played in all but two games in 2020, where he had a career-high 60 catches (93 targets) for 613 yards and four touchdowns.
He could command close to a top-of-the-market deal, which is in the per-year-range of $14 million to 15 million. However, tight ends like Henry don’t grow on trees, so it would be wise for the team to re-sign him.
Next on the list is cornerback Michael Davis.
Davis improved as a player this season, both as a tackler and in coverage. He surpassed career high in interceptions with three, including a pick-six against the Buccaneers. He appeared more confident, showing the ability to be a solid No. 2 corner.
Sticking in the secondary, safety Rayshawn Jenkins proved that he’s worthy of a contract extension.
Jenkins has shown to be a key contributor at both safety spots and as the team’s dime backer. The gradual growth with Jenkins has been evident and with a healthy Derwin James in 2021, the two would make a formidable safety tandem.
Head coach Brandon Staley’s defense is predicated off of good defensive back play, so he could be banking on getting the most out of them with his coaching.
Staying on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Denzel Perryman enjoyed arguably his best season as a pro this past season.
Playing all but three games, Perryman performed at a high level. The former Miami product was strong against the run and he was improved in coverage. Plus, he presented a much-needed veteran presence in the middle of the defense, especially while LB Kenneth Murray dealt with growing pains.
The Chargers have three starters along the offensive line from this past season who are expected to be free agents, tackle Sam Tevi, guard Forrest Lamp and center Dan Feeney.
I see L.A. re-signing all of them.
After making the switch from right tackle to left tackle, Tevi played fine in the starting role. The Chargers like Tevi, and I believe they will keep him to at least serve as a depth piece.
Feeney was inconsistent this past season, but Los Angeles still seems confident that he will develop into a reliable starter in the middle of their offensive line. Plus, Feeney has been durable since entering the league in 2017, so it helps his case.
As for Lamp, he managed to put together a full season where he stayed healthy after being hampered with lower body injuries. I believe he will be re-signed to serve as a swing depth guard.
But regardless, the Chargers still need more talent up front.
So there you have it. I believe the Bolts will re-sign seven of their own players.
Which impending free agents should Chargers general manager Tom Telesco bring back next season?
The Chargers have a handful of impending free agents when the new league year begins in March. It’s unclear how many of these players the team will be able to keep, but they will have to be selective during the process.
Even though they have a decent amount of salary cap space available, they need to make sure that they have enough to bring in unrestricted free agents from other teams.
There are several of these players that will likely get attention on the open market because of their success that they had with the Bolts.
If the decision was up to you, which free agents would you have the Bolts re-sign in 2021?
While our poll only lists nine, you can find the full list of the team’s free agents here.
Note: You can pick more than one player.
https://fast-poll.com/poll/ba1c5587
The Chargers need to nail the offseason in order to get back to their winning ways.
A week after the regular season came to an end, the Chargers are already hard at work preparing for how their team might look during the 2021 season.
Here are six of the top questions surrounding Los Angeles entering the offseason:
1. Who will be the head coach?
The Chargers and Anthony Lynn ended a four-year marriage after the second consecutive season of underwhelming results. The inconsistent play-calling and game management was the reason that Lynn got the boot, and Los Angeles making sure there isn’t a repeat of that.
Los Angeles is not only looking for someone to maximize rookie sensation Justin Herbert’s potential, but someone who can oversee the team, not just one side of the ball or the other. Along with that, someone who is quick to make changes when an area is not going as planned, such as special teams.
The current favorite to get the job is Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, given his success with QB Josh Allen and the close ties he has to general manager Tom Telesco. There are plenty of other intriguing options that could get the job, too, including 49ers’ Robert Saleh, Colts’ Matt Eberflus and Titans’ Arthur Smith.
Then comes the rest of the staff. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen is still under contract. Whoever is hired, will they elect to keep Steichen as the offensive coordinator, given his success with quarterback Justin Herbert. Maybe they promote quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton? Or, will they bring in someone from another team?
2. Who will be re-signed?
Like last offseason, the Chargers will have a slew of starters whose contracts are up. The crop includes tight end Hunter Henry, cornerback Michael Davis, safety Rayshawn Jenkins, edge defender Melvin Ingram, linebacker Denzel Perryman, center Dan Feeney, guard Forrest Lamp and tackle Sam Tevi.
Out of the bunch, I expect Telesco to look to re-sign Henry, Davis, Jenkins, Feeney and Perryman. Henry has been a key contributor in the passing and run game. At only 26, his best years are still ahead of him. Davis and Jenkins were arguably the two best players in the secondary. While inconsistent, Feeney has been durable as can be. Perryman played one of his best seasons.
Ingram is one of the more notables, but I believe the injuries and lack of production (zero sacks and four QB hits) in a contract year hindered his chances of getting an extension. Plus, the team may believe that Uchenna Nwosu is capable of taking the starting role.
3. How will the offensive line be re-shaped?
Last offseason, it appeared that the Chargers hit a home run with the acquisitions of tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner. However, it didn’t pay off during the regular season, as the two only managed to play 10 and nine games, respectively, due to injuries.
As for the rest of the line, Tevi was arguably the most consistent. While he managed to play every game, Lamp had his struggles, particularly in pass protection. Feeney’s play was up and down. OT Trey Pipkins didn’t improve much from last season. Storm Norton impressed in his limited action.
All in all, the line needs some remodeling. Los Angeles could draft a starting left tackle in the first two rounds and depth with another pick or two. With roughly $23 million in cap space, they could find a starting left guard in free agency and use of that money to find a reliable depth piece for cheap.
At his end-of-season press conference, Telesco says there is a lot of improvements that needs to happen with the offensive line. He has struggled to build a competent offensive line since the start of his tenure. Can he finally do it this year?
4. How will the draft be attacked?
The Chargers have two additional draft picks, one third-round compensatory from the Colts acquisition of QB Philip Rivers and a sixth-round via the Titans (cornerback Desmond King trade).
With nine picks, this could be a make or break draft for Telesco. He is tasked with finding at least two offensive lineman, a potential replacement for Ingram, a starting caliber cornerback, another weapon or two for Herbert and depth players that can be special teams aces from Day 1.
5. Will any players be cut?
Telesco has seen players walk in free agency that eventually find success elsewhere, but he hasn’t been notorious for cutting those who are still under contract. Could that change this year? Two players come to mind: Turner, cornerback Casey Hayward.
Turner only saw the field nine times this past season. They would save $11.5 million in cap space with no dead money if they cut him. Hayward’s play was disappointing, too. The team would save $9.75 million in cap space with a $2 million dead-money charge this offseason if they cut Hayward.
6. What will the defense look like?
With Lynn gone, that likely means that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will be finding a new home, too. The past four years under Bradley, the Chargers ran a heavy Cover 3 scheme that was fixed on zone coverages.
Whoever the new head coach brings in as the new defensive coordinator is and the system they implement will be enticing. Should they stick with a similar scheme or shift to a different one, maybe a more pressure oriented defense that is multiple?
This will all have an impact on the players that they’re looking to target in free agency and the draft. Before, it was easy to diagnose if they were a fit. But with no set defensive coordinator, we don’t know what kind of players and prospects fit the bill.
The Chargers would be wise to bolster the offensive line this upcoming offseason.
In order to get the most out of star-in-the-making quarterback Justin Herbert for years down the road, the Chargers must do whatever it takes to keep him in good standing, literally.
Based on the production of the offensive line this season, it’s safe to say that Los Angeles could use an upgrade, as they’re allowing 2.1 sacks per game. Among the positional makeovers lies at left tackle, as the future with Sam Tevi is up in the air.
Tevi was identified by Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski as the starter that L.A. needs to replace.
Tevi, who filled the void left by Russell Okung, hasn’t done a bad job this season after moving from the right to the left side. The former seventh-round selection has only allowed two sacks and 29 quarterback pressures, along with being a serviceable run-blocker this season.
Tevi joins guard Forrest Lamp and center Dan Feeney as unrestricted free agents. Given the fact that Tevi hasn’t proven himself as a premiere blocker, L.A. may see this as an opportunity to let him spread his wings and go to another team while they fill the spot in free agency or the NFL draft.
If Los Angeles decided to go the free agency route, 49ers’ Trent Williams, Jaguars’ Cam Robinson and Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva are among the few that could appeal to them.
The draft, however, seems to be the more reasonable outlet, as Los Angeles could have their choice from Rashawn Slater, Samuel Cosmi, Dillon Radunz, Christian Darrisaw, Alex Leatherwood and Jalen Mayfield, to name a few.
The Los Angeles Chargers handled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pressure.
The biggest key matchup heading into the Week 4 matchup between the Chargers and Buccaneers was in the trenches.
Tampa Bay boasted one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushes, and Los Angeles was thin along the offensive line due to the absences of tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner.
The coaching staff knew that it could’ve been the deciding factor of the game, and answered with the perfect plan to slow down the blitzes defensive coordinator Todd Bowles deployed.
L.A. used a large amount of max protection, keeping tight ends and running backs in to serve as additional blockers. But the offensive linemen stayed intact throughout the entire contest.
In total, the unit only allowed two sacks to a defensive group that had 12 sacks in the first three games. To go along with that, only nine pressures were allowed.
A complete breakdown by each lineman, per Pro Football Focus:
Sam Tevi – 1
Forrest Lamp – 0
Dan Feeney – 3
Ryan Groy – 2
Trey Pipkins – 3
When quarterback Justin Herbert was pressured, his pocket mobility and poise helped mask them. Two of Herbert’s three touchdowns came while under duress.
Overall, the coaching staff did an excellent job of scheming the perfect plan against one of the NFL’s top pass rushes. Credit goes to offensive line coach James Campen, who has helped with the development of the guys up front.
While pass protection was strong, the running game was nonexistent, especially after running back Austin Ekeler left the game with a hamstring injury. The Chargers amassed only 46 rushing yards.
The same hip injury from his playing days with the Dolphins appears to still be bothering center Mike Pouncey.
Chargers center Mike Pouncey (hip) has been placed on the injured reserve, ending his 2020 season. In a corresponding move, the team promoted fullback Gabe Nabers to the active roster.
Pouncey dealt with the hip injury prior to the regular season opener, forcing him to miss Week 1. But it appears the injury wasn’t making any progress.
Pouncey was limited to five games with the Dolphins in 2016 because of the same issue.
Pouncey, 31, missed the majority of the 2019 season after undergoing neck surgery following Week 5 and was playing on a one-year, $9 million contract prior the the injury.
To fill the void, Dan Feeney will start at center while Forrest Lamp starts at left guard.
The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their starting center to open up the 2020 season.
The Chargers will officially be without their starting center to start the 2020 season.
Mike Pouncey is not expected to play in Sunday’s contest against the Bengals due to a hip injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pouncey did not practice all week.
To fill the void, Dan Feeney will likely move from left guard to center, while Forrest Lamp will slide into left guard.
Pouncey is playing on a one-year deal after missing the majority of the 2019 season with a neck injury. He was cleared to play, but his hip, which was an issue when he played with Dolphins, is now giving him problems.
The Los Angeles Chargers could be without their starting center this weekend for the season opener.
There’s a chance that the Chargers could be without their starting center for the season opener against the Bengals.
According to coach Anthony Lynn, center Mike Pouncey will likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. Lynn added that Pouncey’s injury is not related to the season-ending neck injury he suffered last season.
Pouncey missed some of the final practices last week, but his injury is unknown.
If Pouncey is unable to, Dan Feeney is next on the depth chart at center. That would mean Forrest Lamp would likely get the start at left guard in the meantime.
Another player who will be a game-time decision is wide receiver Mike Williams, who is dealing with a shoulder injury.
Lynn said Williams is slowly being worked in this week at practice.
Does Forrest Lamp have what it takes to start this upcoming season?
Chargers guard Forrest Lamp has been one of the most highly anticipated players over the past couple of seasons. Unfortunately, he has let those down after failing to stay on the field due to various lower body injuries.
Lamp has shown flashes of a solid NFL lineman, but it’s been injuries that have held him back from reaching his full potential.
Primarily the team’s backup left guard behind Dan Feeney, Lamp has only made two starts in three seasons.
However, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes that Lamp is capable of emerging as a surprise starter this upcoming season. The only thing is, it wouldn’t be at left guard. It would be the starting left tackle.
Too much of an emphasis is placed on body type and arm length when evaluating offensive linemen. The quality of a prospect’s film is often overlooked when he doesn’t fit a certain mold.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ Forrest Lamp serves as a perfect example. Lamp played as well or better than any tackle prospect in the 2017 draft class. The Western Kentucky product ranked first overall in pass-blocking efficiency during his senior season, per Pro Football Focus.
Yet he never had an opportunity to play the position in the NFL before moving to guard.
Now, the Chargers have a left tackle problem after trading Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers. Trey Pipkins and Sam Tevi, who previously started at right tackle, will compete for the starting spot. Give Lamp a legit shot to win the job, and he may just surprise.
The former Western Kentucky product was exclusively the Hilltopper’s left tackle from 2014-2016, but was moved inside due to his average height and arm length. But in each of his three collegiate seasons, Lamp was one of the most elite tackles in college football.
The coaching staff said that Lamp could be an option at left tackle since there will be a competition to fill the void at the position. But it’s a bit hard to believe that he would make the transition from guard to tackle, especially coming off of a broken leg.
Instead, it’s more likely that Lamp will push Dan Feeney for the starting left guard spot. In the end, I expect Feeney to win the job. Lamp’s only opportunity to see the field will be if an injury occurred to anyone along the offensive line, if he is able to stay healthy, that is.
