Chargers Offseason Needs NFL 2022: Free Agency And Draft Preview
The Chargers are arguably in the best position of any NFL team heading into the offseason. They have a solid roster, a promising QB, and a lot of money to keep it strong. They have the 2nd most cap in the NFL with $72 million. There are some key free agents that they should try to re-sign though. Guys like Chris Harris, Mike Williams, and maybe Uchenna Nwosu. Other than that, they have a lot of money to fill the Chargers offseason needs.
Chargers Free Agency
In free agency, they can address their defensive line needs. They need someone to line up on the other side of Joey Bosa. They have that opportunity in free agency. The Chargers can re-sign Linval Joseph, but he is getting older and the Chargers have a chance to get younger and cheaper here. With the possibility of losing Mike Williams, they can find a new WR2 where this free agency is rich of them. Mike Williams might be the best WR2 out of the WR2 group, but he will be expensive, especially how he started the season. Finding someone to line up on the other side of Keenan Allen will be key for Justin Herbert. They should also look at TE in free agency. There’s good value here and Jared Cook is just too old to bring back. They can find a younger and more productive option at TE for Herbert. With the possibility of losing Chris Harris, the Chargers can fill that need in a good market for secondary this free agency. The Chargers should try to get a tad younger and start building a dynasty. They can try to throw some money at OL as well, but there’s just not too many in this free agency class.
Chargers Draft
The good thing for the Chargers is that don’t really have any needs that are pressing. They have a solid foundation in their roster. This helps them out in the draft because they just have to take the best available player to them. They might have different priorities depending on how free agency works out for them. But, at this moment, whoever is the best player that falls to them, they should get them. It could be a tackle like Nicholas Petit-Frere, Charles Cross, or Trevor Penning, or a WR like Chris Olave, Treylon Burks, or Garrett Wilson. Or even a CB like Ahmad Gardner, maybe an LB like Nakobe Dean or Devin Lloyd. For the Chargers, they can take the best player available and be fine, they are really trying to find depth for their team. I hate to sound like a broken record, but that is the draft strategy for the rest of their picks. Find the best talent and get that depth. If I had to pick “needs” for the Chargers, OL depth, WR, LB, and CB are their best bet. If they don’t address their TE needs, if they land like Jalen Wydermyer in the 2nd, they are happy campers. There should be a good guard and tackle value in the 2nd round too. LBs might get thin after the 2nd round so picking a decent LB in the 2nd might be good too. Chargers have a good situation where the best player available is a good pick for them. In the 3rd, if they haven’t already, this would be a great time to get a WR or CB. These positions are deep this draft and should be able to find a good player in the 3rd round in these positions.
The Chargers have problems like every other team in the NFL, but there’s are minimal. They are not only ready to contend in the AFC West with the Chiefs but in the AFC in general and should be super bowl contenders. The time is now for the Chargers, they could have a real dynasty brewing in LA. It’s all about executing it now. Justin Herbert is young and should be a Charger for a while. But, the earlier they start contending, the more chances they have at the ever-so-elusive title they don’t have yet. Something special is brewing in LA, watch out.
