Chargers Free Agency: The Good, Bad and Ugly
By Mike Murray
With a week of Free Agency gone many of the Charger faithful are in full panic mode. This was the year! We had cash to spend! We were going to make a big splash.
Is it all doom and gloom? Are the Chargers in trouble?
I don’t think so, but lets break it down as we look at The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the Chargers work so far.
The GoodNothing has been more important than bringing back Dunlap and Flowers. Think about what the Chargers would look like if both of these guys had left. Dunlap was arguably the best OT available in free agency but Telesco got a deal done and never let him hit the open market. Flowers was also a hot commodity but we were able to secure him as well. If the Chargers had not they would have been spending a first round pick on a CB again this year.
Nothing has been more important than bringing back Dunlap and Flower
The Chargers picked up Jacoby Jones before free agency even started filling a huge whole that they had in the kick return department. We have not had a returner of this caliber since Sproles. Great acquisition!
Re-signing Trevor Robinson and Ricardo Mathews are also solid moves. I believe Telesco is seeing Robinson as our starting center and if we don’t add a DT Matthews will be competing for a starting spot on the D-line. Both of these guys played great near the end of last year and it was good to keep them on the roster.
Stealing Orlando Franklin away from the Broncos was the biggest splash signing of free agency for the Chargers. With Hardwick and Clary both retiring the O-line was lacking experience. Franklin will bring that experience to the team and be a huge upgrade at the position.
Then there is Jimmy Wilson. On the surface this may not look like a big signing, but the Chargers lack of experience in the SS position showed last year. Jimmy will be able to provide that experience and also brings flexibility to the defensive backfield. Look for him to slip into the slot CB position in the nickel package.
And one other aspect that we may be overlooking. The Chargers did not overpay to keep Wright, Gilchrist and Gachkar. All of these guys are set to make around 2 mill next year. If the front office had thrown that kind of money at them I would have heard the fans groaning way up here in Washington State.
Dec 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Eddie Royal (11) dives for extra yardage as Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Jamell Fleming (30) pushes him out of bounds during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The BadLosing Eddie Royal was a tough blow. I am not sure if Eddie was ready to move on, or if the Chargers wanted to move Keenan to the slot. Either way it is tough to see him go.
The UglyThe hardest part of free agency for the fans has to be The Chargers inability to bring in an impact player on defense. It is no surprise to any of us that the defensive line is the weakest unit on the team. I expected them to add a player in free agency and one in the draft. One of the Chargers first two picks in the draft will need to be DT in order to help shore up this unit.