The Los Angeles Chargers have historically been a fairly quiet team in the offseason. Much to fans’ frustration, the team’s front office rarely makes high-profile moves after the season. Though the team has rarely struggled with cap space, general manager Tom Telesco has stayed cautious. This year, Telesco was determined to change that, instead of solely relying on building through the NFL Draft. Here are some of the Chargers’ best offseason moves in 2021.
Signing Corey Linsley: The Center-piece of the Line
Any Chargers fan could have seen this coming. Corey Linsley, after spending six seasons as the cornerstone of the Green Bay Packers offensive line, signed with the Chargers this offseason. The Chargers, who had the lowest-ranked offensive line last season according to ProFootballFocus, signed Linsley to a five-year deal, $62.5 million deal.
Linsley is expected to replace Mike Pouncey, who declared his retirement last season after suffering repeated injuries. Linsley, who was the center for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will be vital towards developing young star Justin Herbert. Having a reliable center is crucial for any quarterback’s development. If Herbert and Linsley can develop a strong rapport, then the two can rise to even greater heights than ever.
Drafting Rashawn Slater: Big Expectations for a Big Rookie
Rashawn Slater was a no-brainer for the Chargers at pick 13 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound tackle was expected to be a top-10 pick in the draft, but a number of surprise selections allowed Slater to slip to the team that needed him most. There were debates about whether Slater could actually be the best tackle in the draft (or at least as good as Detroit’s Penei Sewell). Regardless, Slater was an obvious pick for the Chargers, who were aiming to improve every facet of their offensive line.
Slater, who played for Northwestern University, was a bastion of their offensive line that faced numerous NFL Draft picks. Slater, in particular, was instrumental in stopping players like Ohio State’s Chase Young, Penn State’s Micah Parsons and Michigan’s Kwity Paye. A player with impressive size, technique and extensive experience like Slater seems slated to be an above-average tackle for years to come. Chargers fans will hope that the big rookie Slater can fill these big expectations.
Extending Derwin James: Giving the Superstar Another Chance to Prove Himself
On April 30, the Chargers exercised the fifth-year option for Derwin James’s rookie contract. The 2018 first-round pick put the league on notice in his rookie season, racking up 105 tackles and three interceptions. James became the de-facto leader of the Chargers defense, as well as the defender that gave opposing quarterbacks nightmares.
Unfortunately, fate was not as afraid of him as opposing offensive coordinators. In back-to-back seasons, James suffered brutal injuries to his foot and knee. During that time, he missed 27 of 32 games. The question weighing on many Chargers fans’ minds is whether he will return to hiis rookie-season form. It’s certainly a concern, as knee injuries have historically been detrimental for defensive backs. Even so, bringing him back for his last season on his rookie contract next year was a great idea. If he underperforms for the next two years or gets injured again, the team can just let him walk. If he returns to his glorious rookie form, then the Chargers can extend him and lock down their defense’s leader for the years to come.
Overview
GM Tom Telesco, through most of his career, has often avoided making high-profile moves in the offseason. Telesco was more of a “build through the draft” type of GM, which meant that he would rarely land talented yet expensive free agents. This year, Telesco listened to the fans and made a splash as soon as free agency with the Linsley deal. Is this a signal of things to come? Will Telesco finally start playing a more active role in the free agency hunt? The Chargers often have a lot of cap space, so expensive free agents are often available to them. Chargers fans should be hopeful for Telesco’s future with the team.
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