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Bolt Beat Monday Mailbag: Favorite trio of possible off-season acquisitions?

By Tyler Schoon

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: UTEP offensive lineman Will Hernandez speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: UTEP offensive lineman Will Hernandez speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Whether you’re here for the first time or have been here from the start, welcome to the weekly Bolt Beat Monday Mailbag!

Be sure to submit your topics as soon as possible (I get a lot of Friday/Saturday requests). Your discussion following the article has been excellent, and I’m impressed with how many varied opinions there are regarding draft and free agency in the comments section below. This is the last mailbag before free agency kicks off in a couple of days, so be sure to get the questions in! How can you submit a topic or question?

  1. On Twitter @tjscooter30
  2. Through email at bbmailbag17@gmail.com
  3. In the comments section of this article or on our Facebook page

Looking forward to more of your input and submssions Enjoy the mailbag!

Question 1: I’ve heard a lot people talk about their favorite offseason scenarios, such as who the Chargers should pick up in free agency, or draft at 17, or other day 2 selections. My question is: what are your favorite three players/scenarios the Chargers could acquire? One comes through free agency, one in the first round and one in the second. Thanks Tyler. -Peter

Good question, and I think I’d also like to hear what you guys think in the comments section below. As for me, I’ll give you two scenarios I’d love to see play out:

Scenario 1:

  1. Sign LB Avery Williamson
  2. Draft G Will Hernandez at 17 (assuming Dan Feeney is playing center)
  3. Draft DT Tim Settle/Harrison Phillips/someone else at 48

Williamson doesn’t need to catch up to game speed or learn how to play linebacker. Just plug him in and let him work. I prefer Vita Vea over Hernandez, but this draft is deep with defensive tackles. Remember how last year everyone wanted Jamal Adams? Four rounds later the Chargers got Desmond King, in a draft with a deeper defensive back class. So the Bolts can take a monster at guard, then get a very capable defensive tackle in the second round. Three holes plugged with three good players.

Scenario 2:

  1. Sign G Andrew Norwell
  2. Draft S Derwin James at 17
  3. Draft DT Tim Settle/Harrison Phillips/someone else at 48

I’m pretending here the Chargers find a way to sign Norwell, which likely means safety Tre Boston may not get a contract so they can sign the veteran guard. No fear, in comes Derwin James (assuming he makes it to 17), and is instantly one of the most athletic and talented players on defense. Gus Bradley would make him a monster. And again, take defensive tackle at 48.

Sorry, no Vea here. That’s been in too many mock drafts/people’s dream scenarios, so I wanted to try something different! What three moves would you make? Anything outside the box?

Question 2: Do you believe it will be crazy to draft a player like Harold Landry or Arden Key if Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds are gone at 17? -Pistolsel

It would be crazy, because it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense. Harold Landry is the better player overall, so if you asked me who I’d rather have at 17, it would be him. He’s a good defensive lineman and edge rusher, but the problem is that so is Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Chris McCain (who I expect the Chargers to retain).

ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Dak Prescott
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Dak Prescott /

There isn’t a spot for him, barring injury, and if Tom Telesco wants an upgrade on the defensive line, he needs to do it with interior linemen.

Arden Key, from what I’ve heard, is not only injured, and even lazy, but he’s also not even projected to go in the first round (who knows though, right?). I don’t like a guy with red flags, and the Chargers sure don’t either. They’ve never shown interest in a guy like that before, and I don’t expect him to be a Charger unless he falls so far that the value is worth it.

Question 3: Do you think the Chargers should have made trades or signed other players? I keep reading articles or sifting through Tweets and many are saying the Los Angeles Rams are leaving the Bolts behind. Thoughts? -Dan

Another LA move once again…. but it’s not the Chargers

— Los Angeles Chargers (@ChargersLegion) March 9, 2018

I’ve seen some of those, and I can’t disagree more; the Chargers do NOT need to be incredibly active right now to “win” the offseason.

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It’s absurd how many other fans/writers/pundits are down on the Chargers for being inactive. Yes, the Rams are active, good for them. They needed corners, and they got corners. They’ve given up picks for those. The Bolts have, I believe, a perfect opportunity to fill their three major roster holes with one free-agent pick-up and their first two draft picks. Is it a fun trade for an All-Pro or a star player? Nope. But could using the draft and smart free agency work just as well, if not better? Absolutely.

I’m not opposed to the Chargers going “all-in”, but I just don’t believe they have to and assuming they are failing for staying inactive is misinformed. I could write a whole article on how much the negative chatter has irritated me… anyway, Dan, thanks for your question!

Thanks for reading guys! I’ve got one question for you, and you have to answer it below before free agency truly begins: which player do you believe will end up with the Chargers? I’ll look back over the comments section for the next mailbag and announce who was right. Have a great rest of your week, and as always, go Bolts!

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