The LA Chargers have a fair amount of work to do in this upcoming offseason. Not only do the Bolts have 29 players that are hitting free agency, but they are also going to implement a new culture with brand new head coach, Brandon Staley.
While nothing has yet been made official, the Chargers are probably going to move to a 3-4 defense and could see a complete staff overhaul. Things are going to be different and that changes how the team is going to approach free agency.
Either way, there are certain players that the LA Chargers are going to want to re-sign and the changing of the guard will not change that. There are also those players that will most likely sign elsewhere, whether it be because the Chargers are not interested or because said free agent finds a better fit elsewhere.
We are not including the lesser free agents that don’t really make a difference (sorry, Cole Toner). Here are four familiar LA Chargers free agents that will probably be on another team in 2021.
LA Chargers free agents that will walk: 1. Forrest Lamp
The LA Chargers are most likely going to let at least one of Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney walk. It is time for a fresh start at offensive line, and while depth is always good, the Chargers do not have unlimited funds and can get better depth in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Both Lamp and Feeney were not great in 2020 and they actually were very similar numbers-wise. Both players played every single snap this season, which is great, with Lamp allowing 38 total pressures and Feeney allowing 33. Lamp allowed two sacks, Feeney four.
The reason for keeping Feeney over Lamp is his versatility. Feeney could play anywhere alongside the interior offensive line and can also play the center position, which is what he did this season. The LA Chargers should absolutely draft a new starting center, but having Feeney — who has experience at the position — as a depth option is key for the Bolts.
For that reason and that reason alone, I value Feeney much more than Lamp and think that Lamp is going to be the one to sign elsewhere.