The Los Angeles Chargers have ample flexibility this offseason. Although they need to bring back some important free agents like Zion Johnson and Odafe Oweh, they have over $82 million in cap space to play with.
With a new offensive coordinator coming in in Mike McDaniel, the temptation will certainly be there to add another offensive weapon. Although the team's receiving corps of Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston is strong, a speedy receiver could be the icing on the cake.
In CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani's recent list of "crazy" predictions for the offseason, the Chargers address this by signing Brandon Aiyuk after his expected release by the San Francisco 49ers.
Of course, there's still upside with Aiyuk. He's shown in the past he can be a star-level contributor before injuries and contract disputes derailed his tenure with the 49ers.
But if Los Angeles is looking for a player on the margins to help boost the offense, the headache that Aiyuk would bring is not worth it in the slightest.
Brandon Aiyuk is appealing on a one-year "prove it" deal, but the drama that comes with it could be disastrous
Don't get it wrong. There's a serious chance that Aiyuk returns to the NFL and reaches the heights of his early career again. Between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he amassed 153 receptions for 2,357 yards and 15 TD on 219 targets.
In a vacuum, he could be the speedy receiving threat the Chargers need to truly get their offense over the hump. But context is important here.
Although the full details about Aiyuk's fall-out with the 49ers are not known, it's clear there was a healthy degree of unhappiness with his role in the offense and his contract number. He ultimately forfeited the remainder of the guarantees on his four-year, $120 million contract as a result of this dispute.
He'll also be returning from a devastating ACL tear he suffered in 2024.
It's vital to consider the implications of bringing a player such as that into an organization. I've advocated for A.J. Brown as a potential trade target this offseason, but there's a difference. While Brown has made his frustrations with his role in Philadelphia publicly known, it has not risen to the level that Aiyuk's saga in San Francisco has.
Brown is ready and willing to play, and the Chargers would be acquiring him for the express purpose of giving him a star-level workload.
With Aiyuk, his role would be much less clear in Los Angeles's deep receiving corps. If Aiyuk is truly motivated to prove himself as an elite receiver again, perhaps he'd accept whatever role the Chargers could give him.
But the potential for catastrophe, and for a disruptive presence in the locker room, is too great for Los Angeles to risk taking a swing.