While the main focus of the LA Chargers is the team's current trek towards the playoffs, it is hard to not get excited about the future of the team as well. This operation is only going to get better the longer Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley are together and the Chargers have the most salary-cap space to spend in the offseason.
Before splurging on any big-name free agents, though, the Bolts are going to have to spend some of that salary-cap space on retaining upcoming free agents. That is going to cut into a decent chunk of the salary-cap space but there still should be room to bring in external help.
Here are the five upcoming unrestricted free agents that the LA Chargers should prioritize the most:
1. Kyzir White
Kyzir White is the most important upcoming free agent for the LA Chargers. White has enjoyed a fantastic breakout season in the first year under Brandon Staley and has played himself into a nice contract in the offseason. White probably will end up being a Pro Bowler and should end the season as the team's tackle leader.
White has been solid in both pass coverage and in helping in the run game as well. His instincts as a former safety are on full display and have really helped him succeed in what Staley has done with the defense.
Bringing him back is also really important as Kenneth Murray has not been the kind of player that the Chargers were hoping for. There is some optimism that he could figure it out with an entire extra offseason to learn this defense but the Chargers cannot bank on Murray being even an average inside linebacker next season.
For that reason, bringing back White is a no-brainer. He has been the best player on this defense not named Joey Bosa or Derwin James, which is saying something.
2. Justin Jones
Justin Jones might not be the biggest name and might not seem like he should be prioritized this highly in the upcoming offseason. Some may argue that another defensive tackle on the LA Chargers should be prioritized before Jones and we will touch on that later in the article.
Jones has been crucial to the LA Chargers' run defense this season. The Chargers have been better against the run when Jones is playing and when he was hurt it was the worst part of the season for the Bolts. Not only is he solid against the run, but he also makes an impact in the pass-rush as well.
While Jones might not be great in either avenue, it is hard to find a defensive tackle who is good in both areas. More importantly, it is hard to find a young defensive tackle who is going to be relatively cheap that is good in both areas.
Jones is not going to get some huge contract and the Chargers could probably bring him back on a three-year contract around $12 million. That is not a big price to pay at all and there is the potential of Jones getting even better and being worth even more. He is still only 25 years old.
Jones is consistent and the LA Chargers know exactly what they are going to get if he continues to play at the same level. With the potential to play even better, and at that price, this is a no-brainer. Jones should be one of the first players that Tom Telesco connects with in the offseason.
3. Uchenna Nwosu
Uchenna Nwosu did not start the season at all how the LA Chargers were hoping this season. Nwosu was playing pretty poorly and it was more than fair to question whether or not the Bolts should offer him a contract in the offseason. He was not generating pressure on the quarterback and was playing poorly against the run.
Things have flipped since the bye week and now Nwosu becomes one of the biggest priorities for the LA Chargers in the offseason. Granted, a big part of the reason has to do with the position he plays more so than his overall talent, but the point still stands.
According to Pro Football Focus, in the first eight games of the season Nwosu had generated 14 pressures with juts one sack. In the six games since, Nwosu has generated 20 pressures and has recorded three sacks. He also had a massive interception against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.
Nwosu may have figured something out late in the season and the LA Chargers would much rather see if he truly did in powder blue next season rather than watching him flourish in a different uniform next season. Because he has not been a starter in his career to this point, and his overall numbers are not eye-popping, his market is probably going to be pretty cheap.
The Chargers can comfortably sign Nwosu to a new contract after this season and should be looking to do so with the depth on the edge. Kyler Fackrell is going to be a free agent and while Chris Rumph will have one year of experience, the team cannot bank on that.
There is the potential of the Chargers drafting a edge rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft as well but with the Chargers not having a premier pick in a not-so-great draft class, it is better to bring Nwosu back as he is a known commodity that has played well.
4. Linval Joseph
Linval Joseph has been really good this season and you could make the case that he should be even higher on this list than he is. Some may argue that he should be higher than Justin Jones as well. And while I understand why someone would prioritize Joseph that much, his age does limit just how much the Chargers should offer him.
It is hard seeing Joseph getting an offer that is close to his current contract but if that is the price then the LA Chargers should probably pass. While Joseph has been impactful this season, he is 33 years old and probably only has another 2-3 years in him anyway.
The end of that contract if it is a multi-year deal could be pretty ugly and if the price is too high the Chargers are better off signing a younger player. That being said, he obviously still makes this list so he still should be someone that the Bolts do re-sign.
The Chargers can field a pretty decent defensive line group if they bring back both Jones and Joseph and add reinforcements in free agency and the draft. Signing another older defensive tackle in Akiem Hicks would be smart (as long as the contract makes sense) as does spending mid-round draft capital on a run-stuffing defensive tackle for depth.
Jerry Tillery will still be on the roster just because there is no real reason to release him but the less he plays the better for the Bolts. Tillery has shown enough that he just is not the guy that the Chargers were hoping for.
5. Andre Roberts
This might seem like a surprise but Andre Roberts absolutely should be on the Chargers priority list this offseason. Sure, he does not have any impact at all in the offense but the impact he has on the special teams side of the ball is definitely felt.
Roberts has been so much better than any other kick returner that the Chargers have tried this season and quite frankly, he is probably the best and most consistent returner since Darren Sproles was returning kicks in San Diego.
The Chargers have continually had one of the worst special teams units in the league since Tom Telesco took over as GM and it is time for the Bolts to prioritize bringing back an impact player on special teams, especially considering the price is cheap. Plus, if they don't bring back Roberts, there is a good chance they use yet another late-round pick on a returner, which is a waste of draft capital.
What about other LA Chargers who did not make the list?
Mike Williams:
Mike Williams is not on the list as the Chargers should not overpay him in free agency this offseason. Quite frankly, it might be best that he does not get a new contract from the Chargers. If the Bolts are going to pay a receiver I would much rather them pay the extra $4-5 million per season to get Davante Adams over Williams.
If push comes to shove then they franchise tag him instead of signing him to a multi-year deal.
Oday Aboushi:
I am not against re-signing Oday Aboushi in the slightest. He played really well before tearing his ACL this season. However, I don't think I can rank him ahead of the other players on this list after suffering a season-ending injury, especially with the potential of taking a guard in the draft.
Dustin Hopkins:
Kicker don't really have robust free-agent markets so the Chargers don't need to prioritize Hopkins over many other players in order to bring him back.
Stephen Anderson:
The Chargers don't need Stephen Anderson, but it would be nice to see him return as depth.
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Anyone else that is not mentioned in this article does not need to be prioritized at all in the offseason.