3 remaining free agents who have connections to LA Chargers

3. Rick Wagner, T

• Connection: Corey Linsley

The Green Bay Packers signed Rick Wagner to be Bryan Bulaga’s replacement last season and with Bulaga’s injuries Wagner ended up being a better option for Green Bay. He is now a free agent without a team and could be forced to take on a lesser role for less money.

I know this is not the most exciting free agent there is but we have to evaluate actual team needs. Sure, there are other connections elsewhere, but if the Chargers are going to spend it should be on something that is useful. This is useful as Wagner could be the team’s swing tackle off the bench.

It is a fall from grace to go from a long-time starting tackle to a swing tackle but that is where Wagner is at in this point of his career. He could be starting caliber, although he would be on the low end of that, but is overqualified as a swing tackle off the bench.

Again, the depth options on the offensive line are really worrisome. The backup tackles are Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton. Can you imagine one of them protecting Justin Herbert’s blindside? You don’t have to, as they came in last year at times and contributed to the worst offensive line in football.

If Wagner is holding out until someone gets hurt and there is a starting opening somewhere else then the Chargers won’t get him. However, if they could bring him in for cheap to be a depth option then they absolutely should.

Once again, guys are going to get hurt and I would bet that there will be at least one game in which Bulaga or Rashawn Slater don’t play.