LA Chargers: Why Corey Linsley should be the no. 1 free agency priority
By Jason Reed
2. Center is the one position where the LA Chargers should want to bring in experience
Anyone that reads my work here at Bolt Beat knows that I do not love the idea of cycling through veteran offensive linemen instead of building an offensive line from scratch. That is why the Chargers have had a bad offensive line for the last decade-plus.
The team typically fills the holes with cheaper veteran signings, some of which work out and some don’t, and then don’t draft at the position. The last offensive lineman taking by the team in the first round was in 2013 with only one more offensive lineman — Forrest Lamp — being taken in the top two rounds in that timeframe.
Linsley is great for two reasons. First of all, he is not that old. Linsley will be 30 this upcoming season and the Chargers could get him from 30-32 without worrying about any significant drop-off.
Second is the fact that center is the one area where the team should be pursuing experience. Linsley has been snapping for Aaron Rodgers for seven seasons and that could have a big impact on Justin Herbert. Not only that, as the leader of the offensive line he can help guide the young talent that the Chargers should be bringing in.
That is why Mike Pouncey worked so well before he got hurt. The team should be looking at drafting a franchise tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft and should add at least one more high draft pick, in my opinion, at guard.
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Center can be a veteran that the team pays for, like Linsley, while right guard can be the admitted weak spot of the offensive line either with a cheap free agent or an in-house option, such as Cole Toner or Ryan Groy.