With free agency less than a week away, the Chargers are starting to navigate their path towards cap compliancy for the new league year. The release of Eric Kendricks earlier in the week combine with other potential upcoming moves will probably give them some room to navigate the free agent market.
Still, for the purposes of this excersise, I wouldn’t expect the Chargers to be big spenders. They’re not going to have the kind of financial capital to compete with the top five or top ten cap space teams. However, they still will have to find some good value in the free agent market prior to April’s draft with some concerning needs on the roster.
Philadelphia Eagles: RB D'Andre Swift
This one is a rather obvious selection to me. Sure, other Eagles free agents could make a decent bit of sense at key defensive positions. The Chargers certainly have a need at linebacker and I wouldn’t mind a solid coverage linebacker like Zach Cunningham for Jesse Minter’s defense.
But there’s value in Swift’s market. Even after a 1,000-yard Pro Bowl season, he still may not be considered a top-tier running back in this class. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweeted that Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are currently at the top of the market, followed by running backs like Derrick Henry and Swift in the second tier.
Considering how suppressed the running back market has been in recent seasons, the Chargers can probably get someone like Swift on a relatively cheap contract. PFF’s current projections have him a $6.25 million AAV, virtually identical to Austin Ekeler’s recent cap hits for better value in the ground game.
He’s a decent downhill stopgap back while the Chargers figure out what to do at running back in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys: CB Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore is one of the older cornerbacks on the market, but he really hasn’t lost a step in recent years. At recent stops in Carolina, Indianapolis, and Dallas after his long Patriots career, his coverage numbers have remained the same across the board. Despite Gilmore being on the brink of 34, he allowed an 83.3 passer rating last year and has never dipped below a 70+ coverage grade in his last three seasons.
For the Chargers, it’s simple. They’re going to attack corners in the draft, maybe even double down on the position. But right now, I’m not sure if that’s enough. Asante Samuel Jr. doesn’t really project as a Minter system corner with the inconsistency in tackling. Gilmore being brought in could stabilize the secondary a bit prior to the 2024 NFL Draft. On a short-term deal, as the future Hall of Fame corner is probably playing on a year-to-year basis now, it makes sense for both sides if the Chargers free up enough cash to do it.
Washington Commanders: QB Jacoby Brissett
Antonio Gibson is another name I considered here. But with Justin Herbert dealing with the injuries he went through last season, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Chargers wanted to spend a little bit extra at the backup spot this offseason. The regime that drafted Easton Stick is obviously no longer with the team as he enters free agency.
Jacoby Brissett is still a solid starter option when his number gets called. In his last two seasons of starts, he’s thrown for 2800+ yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. In a scenario where the Chargers need to sit Herbert due to injury or want to make sure he’s 100% before returning to play, Brissett is the type of backup that can buy any team’s main starter an extra week.
New York Giants: LB Isaiah Simmons
The former first-round pick hybrid linebacker has not necessarily lived up to his original billing in the pros. Simmons struggled to find his exact role in Arizona, which eventually led to his trade to New York. While he didn’t necessarily have a breakout year, it was a small stock-up for him as he had his highest career coverage grade in a single season on PFF.
The Chargers need linebackers after cutting Eric Kendricks and likely moving on from Kenneth Murray. I see Simmons as the perfect post-draft signing if the Chargers don’t get to fully address linebacker in the way that they may want to this spring. Entering his age 26 season, there is still some potential for year-to-year improvement.
