Chargers should take a long look at Trent Brown in free agency

There’s likely to be a scramble for signatures when the NFL’s free agency window opens in March.

General managers are stalking their targets. The Los Angeles Chargers need to get tougher in the trenches. Tom Telesco has an opportunity to sign Trent Brown in free agency.

The football season may be over and the Super Bowl hangovers linger, but the show goes on for all 32 teams behind the scenes. Free agency dominates the topic of conversation. The road to Super Bowl 54 begins on March 13, 2019, when the 2019 league year and free agency period begins at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The Chargers find themselves in a situation whereby they have to figure out a way to make roster adjustments capable of improving on the postseason divisional game, in other words, how do they get to the AFC Championship?

Anthony Lynn has set a high benchmark, but a 12-4 record wasn’t good enough to clinch the AFC West division in 2018. Rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, are also plotting their own route to Super Bowl 54.

So where can the Chargers make improvements to their roster without breaking the bank? Super Bowl winner, Trent Brown, might be the answer in Free Agency.

Physical presence and contribution

If you’ve never paid attention to Brown, you didn’t watch the Chargers play the Patriots in the AFC divisional game. Brown stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 380 pounds. The offensive lineman stands firm at left tackle.

Brown matched the agility of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. When Gus Bradley alternated his pass rushers from left to right, Brown was there, pivoting and using his enormous frame to protect Tom Brady.

The Chargers didn’t post a single sack in the defeat. Ingram and Desmond King each posted a quarterback hit. On the other side of the ball, Philip Rivers was sacked twice for a loss of 15 yards.

Brown started all of the Patriots’ games, completing 1,019 snaps, in a season that cumulated in a Super Bowl win.

Contract and career

The 25-year old out of Florida was taken by the San Franciso 49ers in the 7th round (244th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. Brown moved to the Patriots in 2018.

Total earnings to date. $3,482,000 – including $1,907,000 with New England, via spotrac.com

Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia spoke to the media in the preseason and gave his thoughts on Brown.

“He definitely has the skills to play out there. There’s no doubt. He’s long and he’s big. He’s a powerful guy. We like what we see, and we’ll just have to see how it all looks when everything gets going here”, via necn.com

A Future Bolt?

There’s no doubting Brown’s abilities. The Patriots got a lot for their money and Bill Belichick may opt to re-sign Brown. The Chargers could incorporate Brown into the right tackle slot, dropping Sam Tevi down the depth chart. Both Tevi and Russell Okung have inferior weight and height measurements to Brown, who may not demand an unrealistic salary.

More from Bolt Beat

Questions are always raised with free agents. Measuring the risk is the job of the general manager. If Brown is released, you’d have to ask the question as to why? On one hand, acquiring Brown could be less of a risk if he continues to improve, as he did in 2018.

The Chargers need to get tougher in the trenches, especially against the teams operating at the higher echelons of the National Football League. Ken Whisenhunt‘s unit allowed 32 sacks in the 2018 regular season. Those numbers aren’t terrible, however, the Patriots gave up only 22 sacks in their entire season.

Bolt Beat

Wondering who else the Chargers should sign in free agency? Jason Gilder breaks down his thoughts on K.J. Wright. Elsewhere, Travis Wakeman gives his thoughts on the Chargers with this mock draft.

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