The common consensus is this offseason that the LA Chargers are going to part ways with long-time defensive end, Melvin Ingram. Ingram is a free agent this offseason, is up there in age and is a big name that the team seemingly cannot afford.
Heading into the season you could make the case that Ingram and Hunter Henry would essentially be competing to be re-signed by the Chargers. Henry is coming off of a franchise-tagged season in which he stayed healthy and built a really good rapport with Justin Herbert.
Henry seemingly won the competition to be re-signed by the LA Chargers.
However, he may not be the only one that gets re-signed. While most fans have moved on from Ingram already, there is a sneaky good chance that Tom Telesco surprises us and brings Ingram back into the fold.
Here is why.
1. Melvin Ingram is going to be a cheap signing for the LA Chargers
The LA Chargers absolutely cannot afford to pay Ingram a premium contract but is he even going to get that at this point in his career? Ingram’s market value is not as high as some may think and the Chargers could get him at a discount.
Over The Cap values Ingram at $1.5 million. While he will undoubtedly get more than that, he very well could only get in the $4-5 million range. If that is the case, the Chargers could afford to bring him back into the fold.
Ingram is on the wrong side of 30 and is coming off of a season in which he suffered several injuries. No team is going to offer him as much as they would if he would have stayed healthy for the entire season, let alone if he was younger.
Everson Griffen, who was in a much better position than Ingram is in now, got a one-year, $6 million contract last offseason. A two-year, $8 million contract with incentives and a club option for year two is absolutely feasible.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports – LA Chargers
2. The LA Chargers could certainly use Melvin Ingram
The LA Chargers have not confirmed whether or not they are switching over to a 3-4 defense but head coach Brandon Staley did say it would differ from week-to-week based on the matchup vs. each opponent.
The LA Chargers could use Melvin Ingram regardless. The depth on the edge is not great and while the team will likely draft someone in the 2021 NFL Draft, I would not expect that prospect to have a huge impact right away as it will likely be someone in the mid-to-late rounds.
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The Chargers have other roster needs that simply have to be addressed first. The offensive line has to be priority number one and you could definitely make the case for the team needing a cornerback more than an edge defender.
The Chargers do not have to rely on Ingram to have an every-down role, but with his experience in a 3-4 defense, he could provide snaps both at outside linebacker and defensive end. Granted, he won’t be the same Melvin Ingram, but he certainly is still a positive presence in the pass-rush.
Right now, the only tangible option the team has at outside linebacker is Uchenna Nwosu, who is also the team’s only real option at defensive end across from Joey Bosa. Nwosu is solid, but there is nothing wrong with adding some veteran depth.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports – LA Chargers
3. Melvin Ingram’s veteran leadership is huge as the LA Chargers transition coaching staffs
The LA Chargers are undergoing a big transition this offseason as Brandon Staley is practically bringing an entirely new coaching staff with him to replace Anthony Lynn’s staff. This is as big of a fresh start as an organization can get in terms of coaching.
This is not a process, though. This is not Zac Taylor taking over in Cincinnati and slowly building something up. This is a team that already has the foundation to contend for a Super Bowl and has one of the best young coaches in the league.
This is a team that is ready to win now and any additional help that the coaching staff can get is huge. Melvin Ingram’s veteran leadership as the longest-tenured player on the LA Chargers could be massive for the lockerroom.
We have seen firsthand just how good of a leader Ingram is. During his contract dispute in training camp, Ingram was still going to practice and was even acting as a coach for the other players. He was not participating in the drills but was still adding something beneficial to the team.
That is important for whoever the Chargers draft at defensive end/outside linebacker as well. Like Antonio Gates did with Hunter Henry, Ingram could be the veteran that the rookie leans on and learns from to maximize their tenure in the league.
The LA Chargers have the right reasons to re-sign Melvin Ingram and we have a reason to believe that it will be affordable for the Bolts. That is why it is more likely than most think.