Chargers signing underrated Jets free agent is obvious after Chad Alexander hire

The LA Chargers continued building out what the team hopes is a winning front office around Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday when it was reported that the team was hiring Chad Alexander to be the new assistant GM.

Alexander was the New York Jets' director of player personnel, which is a role he has held since 2019. Prior to that, Alexander spent two decades in the Baltimore Ravens organization, which is likely why Joe Hortiz hired him to reunite in Los Angeles.

Alexander's inclusion in the front office could open new doors for the Chargers in the free-agency front. Los Angeles won't have much to spend but can bring in a few cheap fre agents for depth. With the Chargers exclusively picking from the cheapest options, having connections to free agents is the most valuable thing.

With Alexander in the building, the Chargers have only strengthened the connection to an underrated Jets free agent who would definitely fill a roster need: Chuck Clark.

Signing Chuck Clark is a painfully obvious move for the Chargers after hiring Chad Alexander

Alexander was part of the front office that traded a seventh-round pick for Clark prior to the 2023 season to get him in New York. Unfortunately, the usually-durable Clark tore his ACL before the season and did not suit up once for the Jets.

Clark is now a free agent and his cost on the market is going to be low because of said injury. While that limits his contract value, it should not be a deal-breaker for the Chargers. Clark is still on the right side of 30 and has played a lot of great ball in his career.

The Chargers really need to add a veteran safety to the mix as the only reliable safety on the roster is Derwin James. JT Woods has proven nothing in his two years as a professional and Alohi Gilman is a free agent. Even if Gilman returns, adding Clark as a third safety so James can move around the defense is not a bad idea.

In addition to having ties with Alexander, Clark also has ties to Joe Hortiz dating back to both of their time with the Ravens. More importantly, Clark has played under Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter was the DBs coach in Baltimore during Clark's best season, which absolutely will play a factor in both sides' decision-making this offseason.

All the stars are aligned for the Chargers to sign Clark to a cheap, one-year deal. With a theorized deal, the Chargers fill an obvious need for a cheap cost while Clark would get a chance to increase his value to try and capitalize on what will be his last chance at a payday next offseason.