What could the LA Chargers’ roster look like with some of the NFC South’s best talent?
In a new NFL of the future, the LA Chargers get to steal one player from each franchise in the NFL. Which players from the NFC South make the best Chargers roster?
Today we continue the “Steal a Player” series with an intriguing division – the NFC South.
The NFC South is an offense-heavy division, and that was before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added Tom Brady in the offseason.
Now the division boasts elite playmakers such as Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evan, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, and more. Stealing from this division is sure to lift the Chargers’ offense to new heights.
However, we will not just pick the most talented and dangerous players available in the division. Positional need and fit will also be taken into account when selecting the players that will make the LA Chargers‘ roster as strong as possible. Without further ado, here are the players that I would select from the NFC South.
From the Atlanta Falcons, the LA Chargers steal…
WR Julio Jones
If you have the opportunity to add the best wide receiver in the league to a room including Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, then how could you say no?
Interestingly enough, this was actually a bit of a challenging decision. The NFC South probably has the most truly elite receivers of any division in the league, including Jones, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin. As tempting as it is to grab two, it simply does not make sense in the short term when you have Allen and Williams already on the roster.
Due to the presence and qualities that Julio Jones brings (along with other options available on other rosters), it made the most sense to add Jones to the Chargers roster.
Julio Jones is an absolutely unprecedented combination of size, speed, strength, leaping ability, catching ability, and body control. There is very little that he cannot do and has not shown in his nine years in the league.
The only thing that he has been criticized for recently is his lack of touchdown production. While this is likely largely due to extra coverage sent in his direction in the red zone rather than ability, red zone responsibilities can easily be handled by other Chargers players. Keenan Allen has the route-running to create separation in tight spaces, while Mike Williams has jump-ball ability for back corner fades.
Adding Julio Jones to the Chargers offense gives them two elite NFL receivers and three options who would be number one receivers on some NFL teams.
Top 3 other options: QB Matt Ryan, DT Grady Jarrett, MLB Deion Jones