The LA Chargers have made it a point under new general manager Joe Hortiz to not leave any stone unturned and maximize every roster spot where possible. This was not the case under Tom Telesco, who was typically pretty stagnant when it came to the backend of the roster.
Unfortunately, this resulted in the Chargers missing out on players who could have helped the team, even if it was in a lesser capacity. Whether it be cut players the Chargers could have signed or extremely cheap trade targets, the Chargers simply did not operate around the edges very often.
With a new philosophy in place, it is important to monitor the players who become available for the Chargers to pursue. Defensive back Jalen Mills is now available after being released by the New York Giants and would be a great addition to the Chargers' roster.
Jalen Mills would fit like a glove in the Chargers' defense
The 30-year-old cornerback is entering his ninth season in the league and while there are a decent number of miles on his legs, Mills still has value he can offer to a defense like the Chargers.
Mills' biggest strength is his versatility and how he can bounce around a secondary depending on the package and the matchup. Mills can play nickel corner, can play safety and even has played outside corner in his career. He may not be at his physical peak any longer but his ability to bounce around the defense would add significant depth.
The Chargers' secondary is overperforming right now compared to the expectations heading into camp but that is no excuse to ignore the position group altogether. Kristian Fulton still has a shaky past even with his strong training camp and Asante Samuel Jr. does not have a long-term track record of success.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has these guys playing above their talent level right now but that is consistent with what usually happens in training camp and the preseason. Defense always has the edge in camp and the preseason. Things will change once offenses actually create game plan and run specific schemes in the regular season.
Adding a veteran defensive back who can wear multiple hats would only be beneficial to the Chargers. It would add a trusted voice into the defensive back room and would prevent the Chargers from having to over-rely on unproven rookies Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
With one versatile option in Derwin James already on the roster, Minter could have a lot of fun designing different packages knowing he can move either guy anywhere on the defense. Those are the kind of small edges that can turn a team from a fringe playoff team into a true playoff contender.