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LA Chargers: “Steal a Player” series – NFC East

By Alexander Insdorf

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 36-35. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 36-35. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

From the New York Giants, the LA Chargers steal…

RB Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley is far and away the best player on the Giants. More importantly, he does fill a need for the Chargers. While Austin Ekeler has the potential to be the main running back on his own after the Melvin Gordon era, we haven’t seen it yet for a full season.

Joshua Kelley is who the Chargers drafted to be a goal-line/short-yardage back. He’s got a big frame at 5’11”, 215 pounds. Barkley is about 20 pounds heavier with better speed. He may very well be the most talented running back in the league.

The Chargers don’t have a physical, bruising, downhill runner with NFL experience. Barkley, like McLaurin earlier, is also still on his rookie deal and comes fairly cheap.

Barkley dealt with an ankle injury that kept him out for four weeks in 2019. Despite this, he managed to still achieve a 1000 yard season averaging 4.6 a carry. Overall, Barkley is just a very efficient and powerful runner who’s in the prime of his career.

Other than Derrick Henry, he’s probably the second-best pure running back in the NFL. Pairing him with Ekeler would be beautiful. It would be an even more lethal version of the Gordon/Ekeler pairing. With the Chargers having a generally improved offensive line in 2020, they could help out Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert on the ground quite a bit.

Next. Why Drue Tranquill is due to become a starter in 2020

Brooks, McLaurin, McCoy, and Barkley make the most sense for Chargers when taking a player for each team in the NFC East. McCoy and Brooks provide veteran experience in the trenches that the Chargers could certainly use more of. McLaurin and Barkley are on the path to becoming elite offensive weapons in the league and are on very affordable contracts.

Which players would you take from each team in the NFC East to boost the LA Chargers to new heights? Let us know in the comments below.

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