The LA Chargers continued to make use of the newfound cap space from trading Keenan Allen and signed the team's starting center for the 2024 season on Monday. Los Angeles signed former Baltimore Raven Bradley Bozeman to a one-year deal, adding yet another player who played under Greg Roman to this offense.
Bozeman was an obvious candidate for the Chargers to sign as soon as he was released by the Carolina Panthers. Since he was released, Bozeman did not count against the compensatory formula and on a one-year deal, he is the perfect stopgap.
The Chargers will still likely draft a center in the 2024 NFL Draft for depth to become the long-term starter but the free-agency need has been filled. With some salary-cap space still remaining, here are the other needs the Chargers may look to fill.
Chargers' biggest free agency needs after signing Bradley Bozeman:
4. Running back
The Chargers already made an addition to the running back room by signing Gus Edwards and all signs are pointing to the team taking a running back in the mid-rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. That being said, it would still be beneficial to add a veteran back to compete for a rotation spot.
Rookie running backs can be hit or miss and there is always the risk of injury both with Edwards and any incoming rookie. Having Isaiah Spiller be the only contingency plan is a dangerous game that the Chargers need to avoid playing.
This flier running back signing might not even up amounting to everything and that is okay. Adding another free-agent running back isn't about landing the next Pro Bowler that can carry the offense. It is about giving the team some sort of security net in case of emergency.
3. Tackle
There have been some discussions around the Chargers potentially taking a tackle in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Joe Alt is an intriguing prospect who, in most years, might make a lot of sense for the Chargers to take that high in the draft.
There is also the possibility of trading back and taking a different tackle while also picking up another pick in the draft itself. While that is possible, it would not be the smartest thing for the Chargers to do nor is it likely.
Yes, the Chargers' offensive line last season was underwhelming but so much of the issue was on bad coaching and the lack of any good blockers in the tight end room. Those things compiled to a point where the team was not prepared for blitz packages and stunts. It was not a case where the Chargers were getting torched one-on-one at tackle.
Trey Pipkins may not be a great tackle but he is certainly a serviceable one. And even if you are not a Pipkins believer, the fact of the matter is that the Chargers are not going to pay someone $9 million to be a swing tackle.
That being said, the Chargers do need to add some kind of veteran swing tackle to the roster. As it stands right now, the only depth the Chargers have at tackle is Foster Sarell. That is not a position that a playoff-hopeful team should be in.
The Chargers will likely draft a tackle at some point in the 2024 NFL Draft but it would be beneficial to add someone with NFL experience simply to round out the room. The Chargers do not need to spend much at all to accomplish this as there are plenty of veteran tackles on the market looking for a job.
2. Cornerback
Cornerback is easily the biggest need on the defensive side of the ball for the Chargers and it is almost a guarantee that the team will take a corner in the first two rounds of the draft. There simply is not much to work with on the defensive side of the ball.
The main plan to bolster the room is to land a talented defensive back in the draft but that does not mean the team should ignore free agency. As it stands right now, Asante Samuel Jr, Deane Leonard and Ja'Sir Taylor are the three starting options for the Bolts at cornerback.
Samuel has shown flashes but he simply has too many holes in his game to be a CB1. Both Taylor and Leonard have potential but they haven't shown it over large sample sizes and they were both Brandon Staley draft picks, which does make a difference.
Drafting a corner early in the second round should be enough to give the Chargers enough firepower in the starting lineup to get by. But as Chargers fans know all too well, depth is very important in this league and if the Chargers can sign a cheap veteran to provide that depth then it will help the team.
It does not have to be anyone overly dynamic (like Stephon Gilmore) as it could just be someone to play in the slot along with Taylor. The Chargers just need help at the position and they should take it in any form they get it.
1. Wide receiver
The biggest free-agent need for the Chargers right now is at the wide receiver position, which ironically, is such a big need because the team traded Allen in the first place. After the Allen trade the Chargers undoubtedly have the worst wide receiver room in the entire sport.
Joshua Palmer shows flashes but he is inconsistent and is not always available. Quentin Johnston had an extremely disappointing rookie season and does not seem to have what it takes to be a true WR1. Derius Davis is great as a returner, but he is not a viable option to be a top-three receiver on the depth chart.
That is the extent of the wide receivers that the Chargers have on the roster. While the team will almost certainly draft a receiver with the fifth pick, LA still needs to add some kind of veteran via free agency.
A reunion with Mike Williams is actually possible although nobody could blame him if he wants to test the waters elsewhere. If not Williams, the Chargers could look to bring in another former Raven in Odell Beckham Jr. If Odell costs too much then the team could explore Michael Gallup as a possibility.
Regardless of the path the team takes, it is undeniable that the Bolts need wide receiver help heading into 2024. The entire job of the team is to make Justin Herbert's life easier, not harder.