LA Chargers: 5 decisions the Bolts may regret from this offseason
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers had a pretty solid offseason heading into the 2021 season. While the team made some great talent additions in both free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft, the biggest move for the team was moving on from Anthony Lynn and hiring Brandon Staley to be the new head coach.
Staley is making his head coaching debut this season and even without a single game under his belt, his football savviness, the way he carries himself and the things the players are saying about the coaching change have gotten every Charger fan excited.
The front office seems to have hit a home run with that signing but not every decision they made this offseason was perfect.
Here are five decisions the LA Chargers made this offseason that they may end up regretting:
1. Signing Jared Cook over Gerald Everett
I am probably in the minority in this regard but I did not love the signing of Jared Cook. There is one thing that he brings to the table that no other free-agent tight end was going to be able to bring and that is his experience in the league and in this offense.
Cook’s main priority is being a mentor for the other tight ends on the roster, both in learning Joe Lombardi’s offense as well as becoming a professional. He is going to have an impact on Tre’ McKitty’s career.
That being said, I do feel as if that narrative of a veteran tight end teaching the ropes to these guys is a bit overstated. When it is someone like Antonio Gates then yes, he is an all-timer. Cook had been a slightly above tight end for his entire career and does not carry the same pedigree that Gates does.
Again, I am probably in the minority here but I would have much rather seen the Chargers sign Gerald Everett. Everett could have produced more than the aging Cook and the tight ends would have been just fine. That is what tight-end coaches are for.
This is really a minimal decision and that is why we are getting it out of the way first. I just believe there is going to be a point during the season when Cook is not producing as expected. When that happens, fans will say what if about Everett.