The Los Angeles Chargers exited the first year of the Jim Harbaugh era with a few clear objectives: fix the offensive line, add viable weapons to complement Ladd McConkey, and fix the pass rush.
While only those inside the building are the ones who know just how they are feeling about those position groups, a glance at the depth chart is very revealing. The answers they have offered in those areas lead only to more questions.
At this point in the calendar, the Chargers can only look to trades and free agent pickups. Given the team’s conservative approach to team building, a blockbuster trade for Jalen Ramsey or Trey Hendrickson, seems unlikely.
But there is still good value in the free agent pool for the Chargers to consider.
Los Angeles Chargers Free Agent Best Fits
Gabe Davis, WR
A meniscus tear in Gabe Davis’ knee limited him to just 10 games last season, but even for that many games his production was paltry. How much that was due to Davis or the muddled and confused Jaguars offense can be debated, but he is just a season away from solid production in Buffalo, where he posted 746 yards in 2023 and 983 yards in 2022.
The Chargers are in need of a true X receiver, who can stretch the field — there for creating deep options and drawing focus away from the slot, where McConkey does his best work.
Davis has proved to be a deep threat with a career average depth of target of 16.1 yards, putting him among the deepest ADOT wide receivers in the league.
The Chargers drafted Tre Harris in the second round for just this purpose, but if he isn’t progressing fast enough for the Chargers and if Mike Williams has lost a step, as it looked last season, Davis would be a great option to kick the tires on.
Drake Jackson, Edge
Support Our LA Firefighters In Style
The 2022 second-round pick has struggled to stay healthy for much of his career, but after being cut by the 49ers earlier this year, a change of scenery could be what the 25-year-old needs to get a fresh start. As it stands now the lion’s share of the snaps will be given to Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, but behind them, things get muddled with rookie 4th rounder Kyle Kennard attempting to make the leap to the pro game. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Chargers have the 32-year-old Bud Dupree, who was serviceable but was certainly considered a situational pass rusher.
The Chargers could do much worse than testing the waters on the uber-athlete Drake Jackson. When healthy, Jackson has produced. In just 514 snaps, he generated 30 pressures and 7 sacks.
Kendall Fuller, CB
The Chargers are currently trotting out a motley crew of cornerbacks this season — a combination of maybe good young players and inexpensive journeymen. Dropping Kendall Fuller into that room would be an immediate upgrade to the talent and experience.
Has he dropped off from his prime performance, likely, but Miami’s defense did the secondary no favors due to a non-existent pass rush, but the Chargers wouldn’t expect him to play a full snap share, give the other bodies in the room.
Given Fuller’s age, he would be a short-term stop-gap option for 1 or 2 years, but as the old football proverb goes, you can never have too many cornerbacks. And Fuller still has plenty of good football in front of him.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Chargers YouTube Channel