With Valentine’s Day here, Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez shares his 2021 NFL draft and free agent crushes for Los Angeles.
‘Tis the season for finding or celebrating your perfect match, and the Chargers will be searching for their own when the 2021 offseason begins.
With the hopes of making a run next season, Los Angeles should push really hard to land six of these defensive players to bolster an already stacked unit.
Let’s take a look at which players the Bolts should love:
S John Johnson, Rams
After suffering an injury in 2019 that limited him to just six games, Johnson bounced back this past season, being the only player to play every defensive snap for Los Angeles. Johnson logged 105 combined tackles and an interception. In addition, he only allowed a 4.9 yards per target. Versatility is everything and Johnson is a smart, adept in pass coverage and run defense, who’s capable of playing both safety positions, cornerback and linebacker. Having a hard-working, competitive and proven player, especially one who’s already familiar with coach Brandon Staley’s system, could go a long way.
OLB Leonard Floyd, Rams
A former No. 9 overall pick of the Bears, Floyd was close to being labeled as a “bust” but Staley was the one who rejuvenated his career. Floyd is coming off his best year as a pro after totaling career-highs in sacks (12.5), tackles (55) and quarterback hits (19). He had a career-best 52 total pressures. Floyd also had 31 defensive stops and has been a consistently solid run defender over his career. With Melvin Ingram slated to be a free agent, he would give the Chargers a much-needed presence opposite of Uchenna Nwosu.
DT Shelby Harris, Broncos
The game of football is won and lost in the trenches. For the Chargers, they could afford to add more talent on the interior part of the defensive line. Arguably one of the more underrated defensive tackles, Harris has been a force up front, having posted 16.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 35 quarterback hits in his career. The soon-to-be 30-year old would be a great addition in the trenches and the familiarity between him and Staley, having been on the same team in 2019, might attract.
OLB Quincy Roche, Miami
Roche eclipsed 11 quarterback pressures in three games in 2020 for the Hurricanes. The year before that, he amassed 68 quarterback pressures and 13 sacks for Temple in 2019. Roche took his talents to Mobile, AL for the Senior Bowl, where he stood out against some of the nation’s top tackles. Roche is a slippery rusher with the initial burst, functional strength, hand usage and length to threaten the pocket on a regular basis and defend the run. To me, he reminds me a little bit of Buccaneers’ Shaquil Barrett. A combination of Roche and Nwosu would be a nice outside linebacker duo.
CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
Even if the Chargers elect to keep Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr., the team needs more talent in the cornerback room. Newsome was a key piece in a Northwestern defense that finished No. 1 nationally in team pass efficiency defense and No. 5 in scoring defense (15.5 points per game). He totaled 71 tackles, 20 pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery in three seasons for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound corner has fluid hips to stay with receivers, good eye discipline and physicality against the run.
DT Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
Addressing the interior part of the defensive line could be a lot earlier than many are expecting, given the fact that Staley is a firm believer that the game is won up front. A guy like Tuipulotu could do wonders. Tuipulotu was a three-year starter for the Trojans who totaled 104 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and three passes defended. He is a guy who wins with his quickness, power and explosion, has good range and is stout against the run.
