Chargers have sneaky reason for letting Benjamin St-Juste walk

While most of the attention has gone towards their attempts to fix the offensive line, the Los Angeles Chargers also have serious needs on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. With Jesse Minter's departure, the Chargers have a tall task ahead of them to rebuild their depth for new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary.

In one sense, they've done a solid job of this so far this offseason. They've extended Teair Tart and brought back Khalil Mack. An extension for Tuli Tuipulotu will likely come as well.

But their decision to let Benjamin St-Juste, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $10 million deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, walk creates a new need for a depth corner— one that must be addressed either through free agency or the draft.

St-Juste was excellent last year for Los Angeles, so why not bring him back with an upgraded salary to help carry O'Leary through his first season? The answer will not be surprising for those who know anything about Joe Hortiz.

The Chargers benefit in the compensatory pick formula by letting St-Juste walk.

Chargers could earn a compensatory pick for letting Benjamin St-Juste walk to the Packers

If there's one thing Los Angeles's front office has shown during Hortiz's tenure, it's that they're heavily invested in the benefits they can receive from the compensatory pick formula.

St-Juste came to the Chargers as a bit of a reclamation project. He had struggled heavily on his rookie contract with the Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles hoped they could turn him into a productive rotational piece in their secondary.

Minter maximized his talent, and St-Juste became an impressive part of the Chargers' zone-heavy, tackling-reliant scheme in just one season. It would have been a smart move, in a vacuum, to bring him back. But by letting him go at the number the Packers signed him at, the Chargers gain another step in the compensatory pick formula, buoyed by the massive contract Odafe Oweh got from the Commanders.

The Chargers must have faith in O'Leary and their defensive backs coach, Steve Clinkscale, to identify and develop St-Juste's replacement. The thinking is likely that they can find the same value they got out of St-Juste in the draft or on the open market while also netting another draft pick.

Only time will tell if it's the right move. But St-Juste's departure leaves Los Angeles with yet another problem to address in an offseason where they already have their hands full.