The Chargers will retool a few positional groups this offseason, including tight end.
Gerald Everett and Nick Vannett are set to be free agents. Donald Parham and Stone Smartt are still on the roster, but in a new offensive scheme, Greg Roman will likely want his own guys.
An impending free agent who Pro Football Focus thinks could be a fit with Los Angeles is Adam Trautman.
If there’s one thing we know about Jim Harbaugh, he wants to play physical football and run downhill. Blocking tight ends will be a focal point for a Chargers roster that got very little out of the position in 2023, beyond pending free agent Gerald Everett. Trautman is 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds and has earned run-blocking grades above 60.0 in every season of his career.
With the Bolts expected to run the ball heavily, tight ends that can block are imperative in Roman’s offense, which is Trautman’s strength.
Trautman has the size and technique to move defenders and create openings for running backs. While he has primarily been used as a blocker, Trautman has intriguing receiving traits.
Across four seasons with the Saints and Broncos, Trautman has 82 catches for 845 yards and seven catches.
The Chargers aren’t expected to be big spenders in free agency as they’re currently $45 million over the salary cap, but Trautman shouldn’t cost much. PFF is projecting Trautman’s contract to be worth $4.5 million annually.
A block in the back would be a penalty… but a block WITH the back has become Adam Trautman's specialty.
He won an award for a similar block against the Eagles. He broke out another to seal a huge lane for Alvin Kamara on the #Saints' first play against the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/ydb2TyGdIN
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) December 27, 2020
