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LA Chargers: Five 2020 free agents to consider signing

By Alexander Insdorf

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during a game at CenturyLink Field on November 03, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during a game at CenturyLink Field on November 03, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the first half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the first half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

Free Agent No. 2: Kyle Van Noy

Kyle Van Noy has had one of the most interesting careers in the NFL. From a draft bust with the Detroit Lions to being molded to a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, he’s seen it all. He made particularly big plays in Super Bowls 51 and 53.

Kyle Van Noy makes a huge play for the Patriots defense pic.twitter.com/gV2F2XgBM4

— PFF (@PFF) February 4, 2019

Van Noy is a real do it all-defensive player. While listed as an outside linebacker, he can play inside linebacker, edge rusher, or go into coverage. In a similar fashion to what Derwin James often does for the Chargers, he’s been the Patriots’ glue guy.

Denzel Perryman and Thomas Davis aren’t locks to be back next year. Linebacker was a position of weakness in 2019, and adding an experienced, smart player like Van Noy would be a nice start.

A contract probably looks to pay Van Noy around $8-10 million in average annual value. The Chargers have the money to bolster the linebacker group, in addition to whatever they decide to do in the draft. The Chargers desperately need linebackers that are able to consistently get pressure and hold up better in coverage, especially with the age of Davis and the long injury history of Perryman.

Van Noy was PFF’s sixth-ranked linebacker in 2019. His PFF grade of 84.2 was the highest of his career, beating his previous high by 15 points. The Patriots used him primarily as a rusher in 2019, but his pass coverage certainly isn’t a weakness.

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