The Chargers’ list of needs will fluctuate between free agency, which kicks off next week and the NFL draft at the end of April.
With limited cap space, they will have to be wise with their choosing. Luckily, general manager Tom Telesco has a knack for excelling in free agency, finding superior players for a great bargain. The draft will offer several opportunities to add the talent to fill out the bigger holes on their roster.
With that, we find a draft prospect and free agent to fill each of Los Angeles’ biggest needs this offseason.
Offensive Tackle
Draft Pick — Dalton Risner | Kansas State
Risner is smart and plays with outstanding awareness to decipher all the moving parts around him as a blocker. He will be different in terms of position fit on every team’s board. He can be a very good offensive tackle or an offensive guard for Los Angeles, as they need depth desperately. Risner is a plug and play player that would fit the Bolts’ scheme and his technical ability, intangibles, versatility, demeanor make him a no-brainer selection if he’s there in the first round.
Free Agent — Ja’Wuan James
James is 26 going on 27, and he has started 62 games in the past five seasons and held up very well. After allowing 40 total pressures in 16 games played during 2016, James allowed just 38 in 23 games spread over the last two seasons. James will be the top right tackle in free agency and because he is still in his prime, he will demand a big money contract. But it would give them a plug-and-play RT for a few years.
Defensive Tackle
Draft Pick — Khalen Saunders | Western Illinois
For his size, Saunders is very explosive and has great short area quickness. He exhibits flexibility, speed, and power at the point of attack as a rusher. His first step and twitch make it difficult for interior offensive linemen to square him up and cut him off. He’s effective at playing on the edge of blockers and penetrating through a gap. Saunders will need to work on his pass rush moves, but the character, athleticism and fit as a 4-3 nose tackle is match made in heaven.
Free Agent — Bennie Logan
Logan was not on the stat sheet as much as you’d like, as he just didn’t see the field that often after signing a one-year deal with the Titans. But Logan has the athleticism for his stout build with quickness off the snap and ability to reach through blockers to get ball carriers. It’s really hard to move him off the line, where he shows off his brute strength and does a great job at taking on double-teams. Logan would be lined up as a run-stuffing nose tackle, assuming that Brandon Mebane won’t be back in 2019.
Linebacker
Draft Pick — Germaine Pratt | North Carolina State
Pratt has the size you’d like at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds and the combative mindset in a modern day linebacker. He jumps off the screen with his sudden pursuit speed with the ability to cover sideline-to-sideline, which complements his quick-thinking play style. Pratt brings a strong resume as a tackler. Though he is able to stick with most running backs and tight ends in coverage, he will often fall for play fakes quite a bit, as well as some tightness when opening up. Other areas that he will need to work on including, cleaning up his play discipline and take-on skills as a blocker.
Free Agent — K.J. Wright
Wright played in just five games this past season due to a season-ending knee injury, but his track record in the league speaks for itself. Throughout his career, he has been a force against the run. The Chargers need players that are going to be able to stop the run more so than none, as they have lacked in this area for multiple years. His familiarity with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley when he was with Seattle makes this an even more ideal landing spot. The injuries might make Los Angeles a bit iffy on bringing him in, but his style of play and character would be too good to pass up on.
Cornerback
Draft Pick — Isaiah Johnson | Houston
At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Johnson certainly looks the part of a Chargers cornerback. Johnson has high-end traits and the likeliness of a press nightmare on the outside that possesses great long speed, change of direction skills, quickness, and the physicality to match up with the bigger wide receivers in the NFL. Johnson, a former wide receiver, clearly understands the other side of the game. But he is far from a finished product. He is still raw, having only 22 games at the position under his belt and it’s clear that he still needs a lot of technical development. But it would be one worth taking an developing.
Free Agent — Rashaan Melvin
Melvin has suited up for the Ravens (2014-15), Patriots (2015), Colts (2016-17) and Raiders (2018). 26 of his starts have occurred in the past three seasons. He had career bests of three interceptions and 13 passes defensed with Indianapolis in 2017. A 6-foot-2 and 194 corner, Melvin has the talent, but was held back in Oakland. He was about a $5.4 million cap hit, including incentives and bonuses in 2018 and could be a cheap option with Los Angeles looking to add depth in the secondary.
Free Safety
Draft Pick — Juan Thornhill | Virgina
Thornhill’s draft stock is on the rise following an impressive outing at the combine last week. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash time that ranked fifth among safeties in this year’s class and jumped out of the gym with the best broad jump. Thornhill led Virginia with 98 total tackles, six interceptions and seven passed defensed. A converted cornerback, Thornhill is a rangy athlete with ideal processing skills and a strong understanding of coverage concepts, projecting as a Cover 3 free safety.
Free Agent — George Illoka
Illoka appeared in all 16 games and made three starts with the Vikings. He ended the year with 16 tackles and one forced fumble. He has recorded 359 tackles, 32 passes defensed, nine interceptions and three forced fumbles in his career. The 6-foot-4 and 225-pound safety is still young at just 28 years of age and has plenty of gas left in the tank, both in terms of excelling in coverage and defending the run.
