While the majority of rosters are pretty much set ahead of training camp, there are trades that could still occur between now and the regular season.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named a player on each of the 32 NFL teams that could or should be traded and for the Chargers, he listed defensive tackle Justin Jones.
Jones isn’t expensive, but he’s not as accomplished as Joseph or as talented as Tillery and there’s a decent chance the Chargers lose him next offseason anyway. Might as well see if anyone is willing to pay for the 24-year-old’s combination of experience and upside, especially if his workload is expected to drop off in L.A. anyway.
It’d be a cheap one-year experiment for a team in more desperate need of defensive line help than the Chargers, but there’s also little reason for Los Angeles to pull the trigger unless the front office gets a solid return for a key player like Jones.
Jones, the former third-round pick, is entering the final year of his contract. In each of his three seasons, Jones has steadily improved as a player.
Jones amassed his first career sack last season and five tackles for loss, which marked a career-high. While he’s stronger against the run, Jones has put the pieces together as a pass-rusher.
Now entering his fourth season in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, Jones could be in a prime position for his best year yet since he’ll be aligned as a defensive end in the new scheme, a perfect role for his skillset.
Even after the acquisition of Christian Covington, the interior part of the defensive line is thin in terms of depth, so moving Jones wouldn’t be a great idea. Plus, he could turn out to make an impact this season, more than people realize.
