3 free-agent signings the Chargers should make after restructuring Khalil Mack
By Jason Reed
1. Re-sign Oday Aboushi
Oday Aboushi was a cheap signing for the LA Chargers last offseason that played really well before suffering a torn ACL in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. Aboushi had all the makings of being a sneaky-good signing when the Bolts signed him last spring and he was proving the team correct.
With limited space remaining, it may be best for the Chargers to sign Aboushi to yet another one-year deal to compete for the starting right guard spot in 2022. If the same Aboushi shows up in 2022 that showed up in 2021 then the team will have a solid one-year stopgap option. If not, the Bolts will still likely draft a mid-round guard to compete for the spot alongside Aboushi and Brenden Jaimes.
Aboushi's value is going to remain low after tearing his ACL and Pro Football Focus projects that he will get just a $1.5 million contract this offseason. That is absolutely a fair projection and it is hard to see him getting $2 million after being a relatively small name and getting hurt in 2021.
A contract like this should be fully guaranteed and the Chargers do not need to do any sort of contract maneuvering to get his cap hit lower in 2022. Aboushi would carry a $1.5 million cap hit for the 2022 season, giving the Chargers $7.5 million more to spend of the $9 million that they just freed up.
It is a small offensive lineman signing, but a good one. Speaking of offensive lineman signings...