Almost no team has more at stake this offseason than the Los Angeles Chargers. After replacing both coordinators, Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz must now navigate the replacement of three starters along the offensive line.
They've already secured one, inking Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million deal to be their next starting center
But with Zion Johnson's market set to reach as high as $20 million annually, this still will not be an easy task. This offseason is the organization's chance to reset this era, to forget the failures of the past two seasons and rectify many of the mistakes they've made.
If they fail again, who knows what will happen to this regime. Success, however, begins with allocating their money properly in free agency.
Of course the Chargers, like any team, have had their fair share of failures on the open market. Bleacher Report's recent all-time ranking of free agency busts highlights that fact, with Los Angeles having three failed signings in the Top 50.
But one particularly painful failure, the signing of offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga in 2020, must serve as a stark reminder as the offseason ramps up for the Chargers.
The Chargers cannot afford to gamble this offseason, especially not with age
Although Bulaga ranks only 35th on Bleacher Report's list (the Chargers have inclusions at 27 and 5 as well), there's an important reason why the failed Bulaga signing is still relevant.
Bulaga, after nine productive seasons at right tackle for the Green Bay Packers, signed a relatively hefty three-year, $30 million contract with Los Angeles entering his age 31 campaign. The hope, at the time, was that Bulaga had enough gas left in the tank to help cement the offensive line.
He didn't.
He went on to play just 10 games in 2020 as he dealt with various injuries before suffering a season-ending, and ultimately career-ending, injury in the Chargers' opener to the 2021 season. Los Angeles gambled on an aging tackle, and the result fell undeniably short.
Although they should be set at tackle this offseason with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater slated to return, they will need to fill both guard spots. There are a number of options on the open market to do so.
Biadasz is just 28, and he's coming off some productive seasons with the Washington Commanders. Age shouldn't be a concern there, at least not immediately.
At guard, the age concerns are more prevalent. Many of the starting-caliber guards available on the market are already above the age of 30. This includes Isaac Seumalo, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, and Kevin Zeitler.
If they choose to bring back Johnson, the left guard slot will be filled. That still leaves the right guard slot open, however.
In the rush to utilize cap space and re-shape their offensive line, the temptation could be there for the Chargers to take a swing on an experienced, third-contract guard. This wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially if they were able to bring back Johnson in the process and avoid gambling on a rookie guard in the draft.
But they can't forget the lesson they learned with Bulaga. Youth and health, to a reasonable extent, should be the utmost priority this offseason.