1 pending free agent Chargers should target: AFC West Edition

The Chargers are set to enter free agency with the most salary cap available since Tom Telesco took over as general manager in 2013.

Even though the franchise has some in-house players that will need to get paid, there’s a great chance that Telesco and company will be aggressive in signing other soon-to-be free agents to bolster its roster.

With that being said, we are going to list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

First up is the AFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs – CB Charvarius Ward

The Chargers finished with the worst third-down defense in the league. While some of it was the porous run defense creating too many manageable situations for opposing offenses, inconsistent play from the secondary was another factor. In particular, the cornerback room.

Los Angeles will be in the market for a starting nickel cornerback, with Chris Harris Jr.’s contract coming to an end. However, the team also needs more talent on the outside, especially if Asante Samuel Jr. is going to spend more time in the slot.

Boasting eye-popping size and length at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Ward uses that to his advantage to lock up receivers in single coverage. Another strength is his tackling. His 5% missed tackle percentage is the lowest rate among the top 75 outside cornerbacks in total tackles since 2019.

In 13 games played in 2021, Ward recorded two interceptions and 10 passes defended to go along with 67 tackles.

Dak connects with Charvarius Ward in the end zone
pic.twitter.com/lRQ5cwUq2i

— PFF (@PFF) November 21, 2021

Denver Broncos – CB Bryce Callahan

If the Chargers intend to keep Samuel on the outside, they will have a void to fill in the slot. If that’s the case, a former connection could reel in one of the league’s best players at the position.

Brandon Staley and Callahan spent time together with the Bears and Broncos when Staley was the outside linebackers coach from 2017-18 and 2019, respectively.

Callahan has played in Vic Fangio’s system for the past seven seasons, which would make the transition seamless since Staley’s is replicative of his.

Callahan struggled to stay healthy in 2021 with a knee injury but had three straight seasons with coverage grades above 75.0 before this prior season, with his ability to stay in phase with receivers and break in on balls thrown.

Nothing quite like a 5’9 Bryce Callahan vs. 6’4 Mike Williams #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/GolB2FylSD

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) November 2, 2020

Las Vegas Raiders – DT Johnathan Hankins

Upgrading the interior part of the defensive line is imperative for the Chargers after finishing with one of the worst run defenses in the league in 2021.

Since entering the league, the 6-foot-3 and 340 pound Hankins has been one of the league’s better run-stopping defensive tackles, with his ability to dominate at the point of attack and eat up blockers at the line of scrimmage.

In two of the past three seasons, Hankins is one of just seven interior defensive linemen in the league to have a tackle rate of at least 7.0 percent with 600-plus snaps, per NFL Media’s Cynthia Freuland.

His impact in the run game, as measured by how many yards an opposing ball carrier earns when running within three yards of a defensive player, ranked third-best (by percentage) among interior defenders in 2020.

Raiders IDL Johnathan Hankins had a nice game too. Definitely a force in terms of run defense. Showing some good lateral movement as well. When he’s healthy he is a force and able to move like this. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/ZPN4KikRL0

— CJ Errickson (@CJ_Errickson) November 29, 2021