Why the LA Chargers shouldn’t pursue a free-agent left tackle

3. If the LA Chargers do spend on a free-agent offensive lineman it should be Corey Linsley

It is not impossible for the LA Chargers to spend seven figures on a free-agent offensive lineman this offseason and if they do it should not be on a left tackle, it should be on the center position.

I covered in a previous article why Corey Linsley should be the number one priority for the LA Chargers this offseason and I will be rehashing some of the same points. At the end of the day, I would much rather see the team sign Linsley for $10-11 million per season than sign Fisher for $13-15 million per season.

While I do not like over-relying on veteran offensive linemen because of the risk of injury and regression, I would be fine with it at the center position. That is the one position to get a veteran, in my opinion, as he could help not only the rest of the offensive line but Justin Herbert as well.

Plus, it is harder to land a surefire center in the NFL Draft and 13 is way too high to draft someone to play center. Tackle can be easier to scout and determine and is certainly worth a mid-first-round pick.

Linsley just makes a lot of sense for the Chargers. He is going to be more affordable for the team, fills a significant hole as the Chargers do not really have a center and is going to make those around him better.

The offensive line should be young in 2021. Getting that veteran leader to captain the ship in the middle can make all of the difference. A similar impact exists with a veteran left tackle, but because of the other factors, I would go with a center.