The Chargers bye week is coming to a close, as is the NFL trade deadline.
Teams have until Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 1:00 pm PT to make a trade for the remainder of the regular season. And the question looms if Los Angeles will be a buyer.
L.A. has dealt with a flurry of injuries at various positions, but the units that could use some retooling the most are wide receiver and cornerback.
Keenan Allen should be back to full health from a hamstring injury, as should Joshua Palmer, who missed Week 7 with a concussion. But Mike Williams will be out for multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain.
The Bolts’ offensive production has been incoherent for various reasons. However, the team has been unable to produce explosive plays because of the lack of speed in the room.
Some big-name receivers that could be made available for trade include Texans’ Brandin Cooks, Jets’ Elijah Moore, Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy, and Steelers’ Chase Claypool.
Even though the Chargers have the cap space, they don’t have much. And that could be one of the variables that sways them away from pursuing one of the players mentioned, but there are still other viable options.
As for the cornerback position, Los Angeles will be without its big-ticket free-agent acquisition in J.C. Jackson, who had season-ending ankle surgery.
Michael Davis will start in place of him, with Asante Samuel Jr. playing the other boundary spot. The depth behind them is thin, as rookie Deane Leonard is the only other outside corner.
Some players who might be on the trading block are Seahawks’ Sidney Jones. Chiefs’ Rashad Fenton, Vikings’ Kris Boyd, and Commanders’ William Jackson, among others.
In 10 years as general manager, Tom Telesco hasn’t pulled off a trade at the deadline to acquire a new asset, except for trading away cornerback Desmond King to get a draft pick in return in 2020.
But given the aggressiveness in free agency last offseason and this offseason, Telesco pulling the trigger on a player to improve the roster should not be written off.
“We are always going to look for avenues to enhance our team and make it better,” Staley said about exploring a trade ahead of the deadline. “If those avenues are possible, then we’ll definitely explore them.”
