LA Chargers Rumors: Reasons for and against a Desmond King trade

Reason for the LA Chargers trading Desmond King: He does not really fit in the secondary anyway

This goes hand-in-hand with the team trading from an area of strength to address an area of need but also addressed why the Chargers might not be losing much depth after all if they trade King.

The problem with King is that he is not a reliable corner on the outside. He is not someone who is going to play against a WR1 or WR2 on the outside and succeed. He is best used in zone coverage (which does help in the Chargers’ cover 3 scheme) in the slot.

If Hayward were to get hurt then you could make the case for Harris to go out wide and King to get more reps in the slot, sure. However, the Chargers are so deep in the secondary that they have pieces that could play in the slot that replaces King.

What they really need if things go south is someone who could play outside and that isn’t King. Thus, the team really would not be losing much depth in trading him.

Plus, the team has depth safeties that can essentially do what King is already doing for the team. Only one of Rayshawn Jenkins or Nasir Adderley can be the starting free safety and the other could take up the role King has as well as being the depth option in case things go south and they need someone in the slot.

Roderick Teamer is also a solid safety that could play this role in a limited fashion and rookie Alohi Gilman is an open-field bruiser that could make an impact as well.

With the addition of Kenneth Murray to be the team’s MIKE, they are also going to have more depth and flexibility in using their coverage linebackers in certain situations as well as they will be fresher.

Frankly put, if there is one person on the defense that you could take out with a minimal impact, it is King. Granted, you would be taking away the chance of him having another breakout year, but if the team does not plan on using him that often then he won’t get a chance to really break out, to begin with.

At the end of the day, the price has to be right for King and there is nothing wrong with shopping him just to see the offers that are on the table. Trading him for mid-round draft capital would be ill-advised, but if they can improve another area of the roster then it would not be a bad move in the slightest.