3 recent former Chargers who would have been perfect under Brandon Staley
By Jason Reed
2. Adrian Phillips
This one still hurts. If there is one decision that Tom Telesco could go back and change it might very well be this one. Adrian Phillips was undoubtedly an impactful player with the LA Chargers yet the team let him walk away on a cheap deal to the New England Patriots. $3 million is all it cost to steal Phillips away from the Bolts.
Charger fans are now hoping that they are not saying the same thing about Kyzir White as well. White is coming off a contract year and he too signed a deal worth $3 million with the Philadelphia Eagles. If he follows in Phillips' footsteps then he will continue to be great with his new team.
Philips was a versatile piece of the secondary that could do a litany of things on the defensive side of the ball while also being an impactful player on special teams as well. He is exactly the kind of player that Bill Belichick loves and that has shined through in New England. He is also exactly the kind of player that Brandon Staley loves.
Staley loves cover cornerbacks and Phillips is someone who could have lined up in the slot, out wide or even at safety for the Bolts. Staley is all about matchups and maximizing the outlook on defense and Phillips would be perfect in accomplishing that vision in LA.
It is a shame that the Chargers couldn't simply hold onto Phillips because it would have been really exciting to see what Staley could have done with him in the powder blue.