Bolt Beat
Fansided

LA Chargers: Five bold predictions for 2021 NFL free agency

By Alexander Insdorf

Oct 29, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shakes the hand of Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) after the game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shakes the hand of Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) after the game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

With free agency just a week away, the LA Chargers will have a lot of moves to make. Even if they’re not particularly aggressive in trying to acquire the top free agents, there will still be plenty of moving parts with their own internal FA’s.

The Chargers being well-positioned with the cap is another reason they might be aggressive. Los Angeles has $32 million in cap space currently and doesn’t have to make too many cuts to be able to climb the list further.

If Adam Schefter’s report that the Chargers will move on from Trai Turner comes to fruition, GM Tom Telesco would have the sixth-highest cap space in the league available to him.

Prediction #1: The LA Chargers sign Corey Linsley

This one isn’t necessarily a bold prediction with the number of outlets that have connected the Packers’ Center to the Chargers, but it still would be a bold move. Upgrading from Dan Feeney to Corey Linsley at center would be an incredible relief for the team’s offensive line. Linsley ranked as the best center in the league on PFF while Feeney ranked 35th out of 36 centers.

The price of Linsley may concern some fans. Spotrac’s Market Value function has him projected to make $9.7 million in average annual value. Rounding that up to about $10 million per year likely creates a three-year, $30 million deal for whichever team signs him.

Considering the Chargers were already paying Mike Pouncey $9 million per year over the last few seasons, that isn’t too expensive though. Linsley’s AAV would rank top 10 among the highest earners at center, but probably not top five.

We saw Tom Telesco dip into Green Bay’s offensive line with the Bryan Bulaga signing last year. To put it simply, Linsley is a significantly better opportunity than Bulaga was. There was no doubt that Bulaga was better than what the Chargers previously had at the right tackle spot, but he was really a top 15 tackle. Linsley will be 30 this season and is still at the top of the center position.

Signing Linsley allows the team to not have to focus on a center competition or the draft for solutions. Throughout the rest of the offseason, they could pursue plenty of options to upgrade their guard and tackle spots. A Linsley signing does not preclude them from going after Joe Thuney or Alejandro Villanueva, for example.

Home/Chargers Free Agency