LA Chargers: 3 free agent blocking tight ends to replace Virgil Green

The main focus for the LA Chargers at the tight end position this offseason is retaining Hunter Henry. Whether it be with the franchise tag or a new contract, the Chargers should be hard-pressed to bring back one of Justin Herbert’s favorite targets.

The team is likely losing another important tight end as well. Veteran Virgil Green is a free agent this offseason and he has been the team’s blocking-specialist at the TE2 position behind Henry. He had his moments as a pass-catcher, but that was not his main role.

At 32 years old and coming off an ankle injury that he suffered on a touchdown reception, chances are Green’s tenure with the Bolts is over. Hence why a possible replacement is needed.

The Chargers do have Donald Parham and Stephen Anderson in the tight end room but Parham is not a good blocker and Anderson is far too unproven. Getting someone the Chargers know for certain can provide quality blocking would be huge offensively.

Here are three free-agent blocking tight ends that the LA Chargers could pursue to replace Virgil Green:

1. Marcedes Lewis

Marcedes Lewis is four years older than Virgil Green but he is still producing at a high level. With the team potentially wanting to get Parham and Anderson some more snaps, they may turn to a veteran like Lewis to have a smaller, but equally as impactful, role as Green.

Lewis has never really been a receiving threat and that was the case last season. He finished with just 107 receiving yards although he did haul in three touchdowns. In the blocking game, Lewis was exceptional.

Pro Football Focus grades can be flawed but Lewis but posted a 74.1 run-blocking grade in 231 run-blocking snaps. It was the sixth-highest grade among tight ends with at least 100 run-blocking snaps.

Among those six, only one had a better pass-blocking grade than Lewis’ 66.3 — Pharoah Brown.

Lewis would be as cheap as they come because of his age and has proven that he can still produce quality snaps.