LA Chargers: 3 remaining free agents worth considering
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers free agent target: G Larry Warford
The New Orleans Saints released guard Larry Warford despite him coming off of a productive year as they drafted interior lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and saved salary cap space by cutting Warford.
Now, Warford is one of the most intriguing free agents on the market who is absolutely going to be scooped up by a team that needs offensive line help. And while the interior of the Chargers’ line does not seem to be in too bad of a shape, the team would be silly to not make an improvement where possible, if the price is right, of course.
Warford is someone who the team could justify signing to a two or three-year deal. He is only 28 years old and the Chargers could structure the contract in such a way to front-load it to take advantage of the cap space this season without it affecting next season too much.
Warford was making $8.5 million on average on his last contract and after being released he is probably not going to make the same. Perhaps the Chargers could work out a two-year deal worth $15 million, paying him $9 million this season and only taking a $6 million cap hit next year. That would not stop the team from being able to re-sign anyone significant.
The logic for a two-year deal is based on the fact that both Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney are free agents after the year. And while the team could address the guard position in the 2021 NFL Draft, they still need a transitional guy and Warford would be that, alongside Turner.
Warford had a 70.5 pass-block and 73.5 run-block grade last season on Pro Football Focus. In comparison, Feeney had a 57 pass-block grade and 49.5 run-block grade.