The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years when it comes to signing free agents.
While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Tom Telesco will likely make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some low-cost players.
That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.
Next up is the NFC West.
San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Jordan Willis
Behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, the Chargers lack depth at the edge defender position, as evident from the lack of pass rush production when Bosa was out with a groin injury this past season. Willis fits the billing of a prototypical Brandon Staley EDGE with long arms and explosiveness. With San Francisco, Willis was a reliable rotational defender who applied pressure on the quarterback when he was on the field. On 134 pass-rush attempts, he finished with 12 pressures, seven hurries and two sacks this past season. At 27 years old, Willis still has plenty of juice in him.
Los Angeles Rams: CB Troy Hill
The Rams have a few pending free agents who played under Staley when he was their defensive coordinator in 2020. But with a need to add more depth at cornerback, given Bryce Callahan is set to hit the free agency market, Hill could be a great option. Hill had a career year playing for Staley. He tied for second on the team with three interceptions and scored three of the Rams’ defensive touchdowns that year. Hill also had ten passes defended. In 2021, the Browns signed him to a huge deal. But traded him back to the Rams after just one season, and he is now set to be a free agent again. Furthermore, Hill can play outside cornerback and in the slot.
Arizona Cardinals: LB Ben Niemann
The Chargers’ linebacker room will be thin if Drue Tranquill is not re-signed. If so, they will need to seek out more players to add to the group, and what better way to do so than by getting the older brother of someone already in there, with that being third-year Nick Niemann? After losing one of their starters, Nick Vigil, the Cardinals gave Niemann a bigger role, where he started nine games and became an integral part of the defense. Niemann was consistent in coverage and as a run defender, finishing with a career-high in tackles (70) while adding two passes defended, a pair of tackles for loss and an interception. Most notably, he had a whopping 90.2 tackling grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Seattle Seahawks: WR Marquise Goodwin
The Seahawks don’t have that many free agents that would either come cheap or are worth signing based on play. So, in this case, Goodwin would make sense to add to fill the need for speed at the wide receiver position. While signing a wide receiver who is 32 is not ideal, and it would be more reasonable to draft one, Goodwin still showed some promise this past season that would be worth considering at the very least. Despite ending up on the injured reserve, Goodwin finished with his highest totals in receptions (27), receiving yards (387), and touchdowns (four) since back in 2019 when he was with the 49ers. Additionally, he averaged a team-best 14.3 yards per reception and picked up 18 first downs on 27 receptions.
