LA Chargers: Grading the Oday Aboushi signing

The LA Chargers have signed offensive lineman Oday Aboushi to a one year, $1.75 million dollar deal. The former Lion joins Matt Feiler and Corey Linsley on the Chargers’ new offensive line depth chart.

While Feiler and Linsley are guaranteed starters, that’s not really the case with Aboushi. He was a backup guard in Detroit, but he got significant playing time last year due to some team injuries. Aboushi started eight games in 2020 for 622 snaps total.

How did it go? Incredibly well (by Chargers standards, at least). Aboushi finished 2020 with a 66.6 PFF grade. He mostly played the Trai Turner role at right guard but also had about 63 snaps combined at right tackle and left guard. 11 pressures and one sack allowed would’ve obviously been the best 2020 Chargers’ O-Lineman performance by far.

Don’t get too excited for the potential of him as a full-time starter, as the Chargers are bound to bring in competition and potential draft selections. Aboushi figures to be a replacement for Cole Toner, who to his credit played pretty well last year. Until the Chargers fill out the offensive line, Aboushi will be pegged as the starter for the time being.

It’s also worth pointing out who he’d be sandwiched between on the offensive line if he were to start at right guard. Being between Bryan Bulaga and Corey Linsley is certainly an upgrade for him over the supporting offensive line cast in Detroit.

A higher functioning version of Toner with more veteran experience for just under $2 million is a great deal, frankly. It may not be the sexy name on the O-Line that some fans want (Larry Warford, Alejandro Villanueva), but it’s a start. 41 starts under his belt is certainly more than what quite a few Chargers’ linemen could’ve said for themselves going into last year.

MUST-READ: Why David Njoku would have been better than Jared Cook

I also credit the Chargers for following through on the nuclear approach for the offensive line so far. Telesco stressed that the offensive line was a big deal in his January 6th press conference and has clearly made it a priority. Three of the Chargers five free agency signings have been on the OL. He’s also resisted bringing back liabilities like Dan Feeney and Forrest Lamp.

Aboushi does have some power at the point of attack. Check out this clip of him pancaking on Thanksgiving:

Lions RG Oday Aboushi serves up some Thanksgiving pancakes pic.twitter.com/HuqzBDPWgM

— Zoltán Buday (@PFF_Zoltan) November 26, 2020

Oday Aboushi Signing grade for the LA Chargers: A-

Don’t go crazy over this signing like it’s a premier acquisition yet, but it’s hard to not love the deal for what it is. $1.75 million for a high upside backup/potential starter is the positive of “Coupon Tom”. The Chargers still have plenty of money to work with on the offensive line as well, as they still figure to have around $15-16+ million in available cap space after this transaction.

If he does start, I think he can do at a serviceable level for a small cap hit. Should the Chargers get another guard to start, he’s a great backup.

With this signing, there’s not really a way to lose on it. Low risk, high reward.