LA Chargers: 1 Free-agent target from each of Brandon Staley’s old teams
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers free-agent target from the Denver Broncos: Shelby Harris
Shelby Harris is another player that would benefit from the LA Chargers switching to a 3-4 defense and then would fit on the team seamlessly. However, unlike Floyd, he is someone who could still come in and provide valuable snaps at defensive tackle on an even front.
The Chargers’ need for a defensive tackle is if they stay as a 4-3 defense as Jerry Tillery, although bad thus far in his career, is better suited for a 4-3 defense. That allows the team to “get away” with having Tillery play a decent number of snaps.
Barring an unexpected, complete turnaround, Tillery is going to be really bad if the Chargers ask him to play meaningful snaps in a 3-4 front. Tillery is awful against the run, leaving the Chargers with Linval Joseph as the nose tackle and Justin Jones as the next best option for the other DL.
That is where Harris would be valuable. Harris is someone who has displayed the ability to play at all three spots in a 3-4 front and could fill in at nose tackle for Joseph if needed as well as the other defensive end spot in running downs.
He has potential as a pass-rusher but is more important in defending the run. Harris would give the Chargers a really well-rounded outlook upfront and would give the team more flexibility to move Joey Bosa around on the defensive line, similar to what the Los Angeles Rams do with Aaron Donald.