The first wave of NFL free agency is in the books and most of the big names are off the board. Despite entering the offseason with the second-most cap space in the sport, the LA Chargers have been cautious with their spending and still have salary cap space to use.
While the best of the best are no longer on the market, some available free agents make sense for the Bolts. The best fit for the Bolts is arguably Keenan Allen, who would be following in Mike Williams' footsteps by reuniting with the Chargers after a year away.
It's been rather quiet on the Allen front and with other big-name receivers still on the market it is worth questioning if the Chargers are pursuing other options. One of those options does not appear to be in the Bolts' crosshairs as Stefon Diggs met with the New England Patriots, who also need wideout help.
Stefon Diggs' Patriots meeting brings Keenan Allen one step closer to joining the Chargers
Diggs meeting with the Patriots puts him one step closer to teaming up with Drake Maye and also brings Allen one step closer to joining the Chargers. If Diggs was an option for the Chargers this offseason then he wouldn't go as far as to meet with the Patriots.
Meeting with the Patriots shows a perceived lack of interest from the Chargers. While there is potential up in Foxborough, the Chargers are in a much better position to contend than the Patriots. If the Chargers wanted Diggs he wouldn't be testing the waters with the Patriots.
That obviously isn't the case and the Chargers still need to add wideout help. The list of wide receivers who the Chargers may sign has now shrunk with Allen being the most prominent name available for the Bolts.
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Amari Cooper is also on the market but it is hard to see the Chargers signing him over Allen. Sure, Cooper theoretically fits better as a boundary receiver next to Ladd McConkey but the team already added depth in that regard with Williams.
Plus, Cooper was downright awful for the Buffalo Bills, who had no interest in bringing him back this offseason. Buffalo signed Joshua Palmer over re-signing Cooper. That should tell the Chargers everything they need to know.
Allen is the best option for the Chargers on the market and with Diggs out of play it only seems likelier that the franchise icon will return home. It may not be a matter of if, but a matter of when.