3. Jared Cook
This is the most obvious one and most Charger fans are already expecting only one season out of new tight end Jared Cook. However, if there was anyone out there that loves Cook and wanted to see him with the Bolts long-term… I am sorry to burst your bubble, I really am.
There is a zero percent chance that Cook will be a Charger. It is more likely that the Chargers would not only win the Super Bowl but go undefeated. Cook is a one-year option for the Chargers and that is all he will be (man, I am really setting myself up for a cold takes exposed if they re-sign him to a one-year deal).
You could make the case that the Chargers could take it a year-by-year basis as they did with Antonio Gates. If Cook plays well in 2021 and the team thinks he has more to offer then perhaps it makes sense to bring him back for one more year to continue being a veteran presence to Tre’ McKitty.
The thing with that situation is the Chargers don’t have to do that, whereas they did with Gates. Henry got hurt and that was the entire reason why bringing Gates back made sense. The Chargers have much more tight end depth now and have reliable pass-catching options in Donald Parham and Stephen Anderson where they would not have to be desperate for Cook.
I am rooting for Cook and hope he is the best version of himself on the LA Chargers (obviously). However, it is clear that he is not going to return in 2022, and quite frankly, I do not think he will be that great in 2021 either.