It's beyond obvious that the LA Chargers need to find a viable starting center this offseason. The team already should have been looking to upgrade from Bradley Bozeman and with his retirement now official, that search is intensified.
Tyler Linderbaum is the name on every Chargers fan's mind, but he may be an unrealistic target after reports surfaced that the Ravens are willing to reset the center market to re-sign him. While there are other options available, Linderbaum returning to Baltimore would only muddy the market and make it even harder for the Bolts to sign someone they desperately need.
Thankfully, the Washington Commanders made it a bit easier for the Chargers. In what is a truly shocking move, Washington released veteran center Tyler Biadasz on Thursday. One team's trash is another team's treasure, and the Chargers now have an excellent opportunity to improve the center position with someone who they never thought would be available.
Tyler Biadasz is a must-target free agent for the LA Chargers
One would think that Biadasz struggled with the Commanders last season and that's why the team released him. That's not the case at all.
Biadasz recorded a 70.7 Pro Football Focus grade last season, good enough for 11th among all centers. His 67.1 pass-blocking grade ranked 18th. He hasn't had a pass-blocking grade under 60 since his rookie season. It may not be elite numbers, but it's respectable. And most of all, its consistent.
The former Cowboys draft pick has a career pass-blocking efficiency rating of 98.2, which is far better than what the Chargers have had at the center position recently. To compare, Corey Linsley had a 98.6 career pass-blocking efficiency rating. Linsley certainly had the higher ceiling as Biadasz has never reached the heights Linsley did, but the consistency is there.
Biadasz isn't someone who is going to completely reinvent the offensive line and the Chargers can still shoot for something bigger if they so please. But landing Biadasz would be no consolation prize as at the very least, it would give the Chargers something repeatable and predictable at the center position.
With two All-Pro-caliber tackles and plenty of resources to address the guard positions, the Chargers can go from having one of the worst offensive lines in the league to one of the best with Biadasz playing a key role in it. After all, we've already seen Biadasz be part of some great Cowboys offensive lines in his day.
Biadasz is not someone who Chargers fans had on their bingo card heading into the offseason but the equation has since changed. There's no question the Bolts should be interested.