Tag: NFL Offseason

Offseason reset should bring plenty of hope for Chargers in 2020

If the Los Angeles Chargers nail this offseason, they should be in great standing for the 2020 season.

The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t have the season that they were hoping for in 2019. After going 12-4, which included a trip to the playoffs, it was followed up with a 5-11 record, the worst in the AFC West.

You can point to the slew of injuries, the midseason coaching change, the in-game problems that led to the close losses all year as the reasons why they were unable to string more wins together.

The bottom line is that they can now only look towards the next season. The Chargers will have the offseason to add more talent to an already impressive roster to ensure that they can have a campaign similar to 2018.

That is why Bleacher Report’s Chris Roling identified offseason reset as Los Angeles’ best reason for hope for next year.

Things didn’t pan out the way the Los Angeles Chargers envisioned in 2019—a slight understatement for a team that put up just five wins a year removed from 12.

The question that’s hanging over Philip Rivers’ time with the team isn’t fun, either, as the 38-year-old faces free agency and skills decline. But what is? The No. 6 pick and $56.4 million in cap space.

In the draft, the Chargers could be in a position for a top-flight passer such as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. And generally speaking, the front office has been money in the first round, having selected Derwin James, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, Melvin Gordon III and Jason Verrett.

Free agency will present an interesting opportunity, too, with guys such as quarterback Marcus Mariota and otherwise. Regressions of seven wins don’t happen often, and the Chargers have plenty of resources capable of spurring a similar rebound.

Sitting atop of the priorities for the Chargers this offseason is deciding the future for 15 of their own players whose contracts are expiring. Among the group is quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, tight end Hunter Henry and guard Michael Schofield.

The team is sitting pretty with $56.4 million in salary cap space to bring back some of these key contributors. But they will have to make some tough decisions by letting go of those that hurt them this past season and bring in talent from the free agency pool to set them up for success moving forward.

After signing in-house players and soon-to-be free agents at positions of need like a plug-and-play offensive lineman, the 2020 NFL draft will be the perfect outlet to find the future face of the franchise early on, and talent on the offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle position.

If the Chargers nail their offseason, they will be in great standing when they start their new journey in their new stadium. The biggest thing during the 2020 campaign is making sure that the majority of the roster can stay healthy throughout the full slate.

Perfect offseason gift for Chargers at each position of need

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.

Wide receiver — Brandon Aiyuk

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.

Defensive tackle — Leki Fotu

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.

Interior offensive line — Calvin Throckmorton

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.

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