First 3 free agent targets for the 2021 off-season

First 3 free agent targets for the 2021 off-season

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The Los Angeles Chargers had a severely discouraging and frustrating season, despite the success of franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Chargers fired Anthony Lynn and brought in Rams’ defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, to be their new head coach, and the atmosphere around the organization and fan base is as exciting as it has been since moving to LA.

Chargers currently have the 13th overall choice in the draft and they have major free agent decisions to deal with internally. However, general manager Tom Telesco will be working hard in an effort to bring this team an AFC West crown – and possibly a spot in the Super Bowl.

The boundary space of the Chargers is not so terrible, but it all depends on the internal free agents that they can bring back or separate, so that will be revealing.

Chargers will have to make decisions about several free agents, including Melvin Ingram, Hunter Henry, Forrest Lamp, Denzel Perryman and Mike Pouncey, among others.

After all, the Chargers have some serious problems, especially in the offensive line, and the drafts everywhere have an attacker of some kind going to the Chargers with 13 in total.

While the NFL Draft is months away, let’s look at some free agent targets that Telesco and Staley could hit in March.

3. OL Brandon Scherff

Sure, Scherff’s price will be high, but Chargers desperately need help at the start. Sam Tevi, Forrest Lamp and Pouncey are questionable to return to the team next season, and Trai Turner and Bryan Bulaga have had devastating seasons through injuries in their first year at SoFi Stadium.

Chargers’ young rookie Justin Herbert had a fantastic year in Los Angeles, and protecting the franchise’s signal caller should be the organization’s number 1, 2 and 3 priority.

Scherff is a four-time Pro Bowler and allowed only one sack in 13 games for the Washington Football Team in 2020, and adding it to the Chargers lineup is a must if they want to compete in the AFC next year and years to come.

2. CB Ronald Darby

The secondary Chargers had their moments without a doubt. However, Casey Hayward has regressed and is expected to receive a large amount of money in 2021, so releasing Hayward may be a cost-saving option for LA. Chris Harris Jr. had a first season of ups and downs at Charger Blue, and Micheal Davis did some good things for Gus Bradley’s group.

However, with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce performing at the top of AFC West for years to come, adding talent to the defense is a must.

The Chargers are with Derwin James returning from an injury, and Joey Bosa remains one of the best pass brokers in all of football.

Coach Staley is ecstatic to take on a talented defense like the Chargers, and he only led the Rams to the best defense in all of football in 2020, so putting players on the defensive side of the ball is more evident than ever.

Although Darby had a low year in 2020, its cost may be exactly what Telesco is looking for, and its versatility will be enormous for Staley – who said he will be calling defense moves.

Darby is still only 27 and still has some good years left, and Hayward came to Chargers and improved immensely in his first seasons as Charger.

Even with Hayward back, a secondary from Darby, James, Hayward, Davis and Harris Jr. can cause headaches for Mahomes and other defenders who will face the Chargers – especially with Staley and his superior defensive scheme coming on board.

1. OL Joe Thuney

At that point, the Chargers must add any initial attackers they can. The Chargers front line has been injured at a historic pace in recent seasons, and Staley cannot afford to have his star defender injured at any point in his career.

Thuney may be cheaper than Scherff and other famous names, but make no mistake: Thuney can play.

He can play on guard, tackle or center, and that will be very necessary with the endless injuries that Chargers O-Line has faced in recent years. Thuney played every snap for the Patriots in every game last season, except for two, and his ability to pass and execute the block is the versatility that new coach Staley would love to have on his team going forward.

With Herbert probably throwing the ball away, adding an established pass blocker like Thuney makes a lot of sense to the Chargers.

The Chargers have the weapons in attack to compete in the division, with Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler among some of the best in their respective positions.

Staley is an offensive-minded coach – which he made clear at his introductory press conference, so imagining Herbert with time to launch can only do wonders for the Chargers team going forward.

What lays ahead

While the offensive line may not be the most attractive addition for many, it is absolutely necessary for any NFL team – especially the Chargers.

Herbert blew up several rookie records in 2020, and that was with dubious doubts and countless injuries on the line, as did Austin Ekeler, Allen, Hunter Henry and Mike Williams, all wasting time due to injuries.

If Telesco manages and protects Herbert, writes an OL and adds a free agency CB, that team will have a chance to give Kansas City a run for its money in 2021 and beyond in the Staley era.

Falcons. Hank Aaron

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