4 Chargers who robbed the team blind in 2023

Eric Kendricks robbed the Chargers blind in 2023

The Chargers have made some very questionable decisions at the linebacker position in recent years. One year after letting Kyzir White leave on a one-year, $3 million contract, history repeated itself as Drue Tranquill signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both White and Tranquill were coming off career years prior to being free agents and at that price point, it seemed like a no-brainer to bring them back. White leaving was at least somewhat excusable with Tranquill waiting in the wings. But to then let Tranquill walk? That was the part that made no sense.

Yet it was not the worst part of this entire fiasco. After letting the two breakout linebackers walk for a combined $6 million, the Chargers decided to sign a linebacker over the age of $30 to a deal that paid him more than double what White and Tranquill made combined.

The Chargers signed Eric Kendricks to a two-year, $13.25 million contract during the 2023 offseason. While Kendricks was a former All-Pro, it was clear to anyone who watched that he was regressing and that his best days were behind him.

Now the Chargers enter an offseason where the team is way over the salary cap and needs to free money. By waiving Kendricks, the Chargers can save $6.5 million, per Over The Cap. With a new regime and coaching staff in place, it would be shocking if the Chargers didn't make this move.

Either way, Kendricks robbed the Chargers blind by getting more money than the previous two linebackers combined only to be a worse linebacker than both of them in LA.