With the NFL draft looming, the Los Angeles Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the league, but they are far from complete. With Super Bowl aspirations, the Chargers still has glaring needs and very limited funds to sign free agents.
The Chargers remaining cap space according to overthecap.com is $11,687,068. Assuming that they keep all of their drafts picks they will need just under $6 million to sign them. That leaves them now with about $5.5 million remaining, but they could instantly create an additional million if they were to cut Travis Benjamin.
Los Angeles now starts bargain shopping and they have a general manager in Tom Telesco who knows how to sift through a clearance bin. In recent seasons Telesco has brought in guys like Casey Hayward, Patrick Robinson and Mike Pouncey in deals well under market value. These are some low-risk, high-reward free agents the Chargers could target over the next few weeks.
Glover Quin – FS
Some of the reasons Quin shows up on this list is because he is coming off of a down year with the Lions and the fact that he’s 33-years old. He might be on the downside of his career, but he is only one year removed from putting up Pro Football Focus grade of 90.6, ranking fourth among all safeties. In his Lions career, he has been a playmaker racking up 19 interceptions, in his six seasons, while playing in all 96 games.
If he played at even an average level, it would be an upgrade over Chargers free safeties in 2018. Los Angeles could see Quin as a cheap stop-gap to fill a need and possibly groom a younger option.
Jermaine Kearse – WR
Wide receiver isn’t at the top of the list of thinnest positions, but this bargain move could make sense. Kearse represents another buy-low candidate, who is looking to bounce back after a rough year with a rookie quarterback.
In 2017, Kearse was a key player for the Jets racking up 65 catches and five touchdowns. The Chargers would be wise to kick the tires on the veteran to see if he could reclaim any of that production. The move would give Philip Rivers another weapon that can get open quickly on short-to-intermediate routes, behind a shaky offensive line. The move would also give the team flexibility to possibly move on from a lesser producing player such as Benjamin.
Jermey Parnell – OT
In this deal, the Chargers add a veteran right tackle entering his age 33 season, who might still have some juice.
Pernell’s best skill is pass-blocking using above average footwork, and his long wingspan to neutralize edge rushers. He’s allowed only six sacks over the last two season according to Pro Football Focus.
Besides age, Pernell also struggles in run-blocking completely whiffing on some potential blocks and often reaching. He also can be penalty prone, amassing eight penalties last season after committing only three in 2017 according to Pro Football Reference.
Pernell signing would temporarily fix a large hole on the right side of the line and would allow the Chargers to be patient with a younger player acquired in the draft.
The Chargers understand that they only have a couple of seasons left of prime Philip Rivers, and the Super Bowl window is closing fast. The time to win is now, and the front office needs to maximize the talent on this team by making the small moves that can bring it all together.