Every Baltimore Ravens free agent will be tied to the LA Chargers as long as Joe Hortiz is the general manager in Los Angeles. That's what happens when you spend two decades in an organization and bring the same culture to your new job with the Chargers.
There are some big-name Ravens free agents this offseason with Tyler Linderbaum leading the way. With a distinct need at the center position, Linderbaum has become the dream free-agent signing for many Chargers fans.
Linderbaum isn't the only Ravens free agent who makes sense for the Chargers, though, even if he's the most compelling. In fact, the second-best fit for the Chargers is a name that a lot of casual fans may have never heard of: third-string tight end Charlie Kolar.
Charlie Kolar is a diamond in the rough the Chargers should sign
Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely get all the attention in the tight end room but Kolar shouldn't be slept on either. In fact, for what the Chargers need, Kolar makes a lot of sense.
Oronde Gadsden II is the top receiving option in the tight end room and that isn't going to change any time soon. As great as Gadsden is as a receiving threat his blocking leaves more to be desired. He will almost certainly improve in that regard given his work ethic, but the Chargers still need to bring in more blocking help.
Will Dissly served as the de facto blocking tight end last year but was so bad that he earned a few healthy scratches. He clearly shouldn't be part of the team's future plans and may not even make the 53-man roster (if he makes training camp at all, that is).
Kolar can slide in nicely as the blocking specialist in the Chargers' tight end room. While it may not be a tantalizing role, it's one that has utmost importance in Mike McDaniel's system. Kolar ranked eighth among tight ends with a 71.5 run-blocking grade on Pro Football Focus last season.
Plus, while the baseline numbers are nothing to write home about, there may be more that meets the eye with Kolar's pass-catching ability. Kolar had an impressive resume as a pass-catching tight end coming into the league and has been situationally buried because of the other tight ends on the roster.
That's not to say the Chargers should fully rely on him to be a consistent pass-catching option. But he's a strong run-blocking tight end who has a real case for untapped potential as a pass catcher. That is the kind of flier the Chargers should be taking.
Kolar's still only 26 years old and as a third-string tight end, he likely won't command anything above $2 million on a one-year deal. It's not the kind of signing to write home about, but it's one that can fundamentally improve a position group without using too many resources.
These are the kind of signings that great football teams make. They're not flashy, but they're effective. Charlie Kolar has all the makings of being the Chargers' next diamond in the rough.