LOS ANGELES _ The Los Angeles Chargers' first move of their offseason didn't have the team shopping the free-agent class. Instead, they looked internally to make a move with the future in mind.
They agreed with Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward on a three-year contract extension, a deal worth $36 million with $20 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the contract.
Hayward intercepted 11 passes in the last two seasons while becoming one of the top coverage players in the NFL.
Extending Hayward could be a signal of a relatively quiet foray into free agency, with the team spending more energy and money on retaining a roster that finished last season by winning nine of 12 games.
A year ago, it was a different situation.
New coach Anthony Lynn repeatedly talked about the need to upgrade the offensive line, and less than 48 hours into the official start of free agency, left tackle Russell Okung was signed to a big contract.
The move, it turned out, was a key part of the team's resurgence.
Okung sat out only one game and earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl, anchoring a line that gave up the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2017 and developing into one of the leaders in the locker room.
The team also re-signed defensive end Melvin Ingram and strong safety Jahleel Addae to big contracts to round out their big-ticket free-agency moves.
Heading into free agency in 2018, the Chargers' needs aren't as clearly defined. While management has said that any momentum built in the final three quarters of the season stopped when the team missed out on the postseason by a blink, the organization has to feel pretty good about the roster already in place.
That's not to say the Chargers can't use help and that it won't come via free agency. But the team is in a position to be pickier and more frugal while trying to address some key needs.
