Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is now a free agent and is a great fit for the LA Chargers.
The LA Chargers had crushing news earlier this week when it was announced that Derwin James suffered a torn meniscus during Sunday’s practice and would miss the entire 2020 season.
Since then, the discussion for the Bolts has been whether or not the team will bring in any free-agent safeties and if they did then who.
Earl Thomas was the first name that became a prominent one for Charger fans as he was released by the Baltimore Ravens and has past history with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Another player with familiarity with the team, Jahleel Addae, was also rumored to be a target.
We even broke down other free-agent options for the Chargers if they did not want to go with the Thomas/Addae route. Another name has been added to that list in veteran free safety, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Todd Archer of ESPN reported that the Dallas Cowboys were releasing Clinton-Dix on Thursday. Perhaps this could mean that Thomas is heading to the Cowboys, which has been one of the most prominent teams connected to the safety for multiple years now.
This gives the Chargers another potential option that some people might regard as better than Thomas as Clinton-Dix is not coming off of a release that was prompted by him punching a teammate.
Why Ha Ha Clinton-Dix makes sense for the LA Chargers:
The LA Chargers are thinner at the safety position without Derwin James. While the team absolutely has assets to replace him, such as Rayshawn Jenkins, Nasir Adderley and Desmond King, they need to add a depth piece.
Clinton-Dix is the perfect depth piece that cannot only help mentor Nasir Adderley but could actually still provide meaningful snaps to the Chargers’ defense.
Clinton-Dix is a free safety, which does not fill the immediate need of losing a strong safety in James, but does make it easier to manage the safeties. This allows Jenkins and King to essentially be the two options at the strong safety position, which importantly keeps Alohi Gilman from playing too many snaps on the defense.
Gilman will be a great special teamer and he has potential. He is not ready to be an NFL strong safety.
And while we are all aboard the Adderley hype train here at Bolt Beat, the fact of the matter is that Adderley is inexperienced and it is extremely helpful to have a safety blanket in Clinton-Dix to fall back on and rotate with Adderley.
Clinton-Dix was really solid last season as well. As a member of the Chicago Bears, he posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 74.2 with a coverage grade of 75.5 and a run defense grade of 76.3. The only area he struggled in was in the pass-rush, which would not really be needed.
He is still only 27 years old and he is not going to cost the Chargers, who have a decent amount of cap space, much at all. His original contract with the Cowboys was for only $3.5 million. He is obviously not going to get more than that after being released.
At the end of the day, a new option has emerged for the LA Chargers that is better than all of the other options available. Depth is important. Call Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.