You know I really must say it has been very enjoyable discussing Charger Nation with all of you these last 5 or so months. We have cheered together, we have cried together, we have b'ched, moaned, and complained together. But the season is over now and it is our duty as fans and arm-chair GMs to begin the process of restoring our team to its once feared status in the league (when was that again?). So I invite all of you to participate and who knows maybe ol' AJ will stop through and consider some of our opinions.........
Not likely! LOL. However I would like to start discussing Free agents
and what we could do to make our team better. We, as a collective, have been discussing a lot here lately about draft picks and priorities. However Free Agency moves - the right ones - can provide us a little more flexibility in the draft. Here are some position-based free-agents that we can begin to set our sights on.
RB: Ray Rice, Matt Forte, Ryan Grant, Peyton Hillis, Mike Tolbert, Benjarvus Green-Ellis, LaDanian Tomlinson, Cedric Benson, Marshawn Lynch, Arian Foster (restricted)
- My thoughts: Would be interested in Peyton Hillis but he is the same back as Mike Tolbert I think and does no good to have two starting RBs.... but then again there is no reason to think that R Matthews wont get hurt. LT for sentimental reasons and resign Tolbert to play FB.
WR: Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, Steve Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Robert Meachem, Mario Manningham, Mike Wallace
- My thoughts: Wow there are some names here on this list. The one that interest me the most IF we can resign V-Jack is Steve Johnson. I think he can be that #2 or Slot WR that would just put our corps of WRs over the top. I like Reggie Wayne too but I gotta think that he is gonna stay with the Colts if he can.
OL: Demetrius Bell (T), Carl Nicks (G), Ben Grubbs (G), Chris Meyers (C), Jeff Saturday (C), Nick Hardwick (C), Scott Wells (C)
- My thoughts: Man a move in this area, maybe two, could really help us out big time. Of course resigning Hardwick would be a good move but there are at least two other centers out there - granted Saturday ain't young either. But I am specifically interested in picking up the OT and a OG.
DL: Robert Mathis (DE), Antonio Garay (NT), Calais Campbell (DE), Jason Jones (DT), John Abraham (DE), Cliff Avril (DE), Aubrayo Franklin (NT), Sione Pouha (NT), Paul Soliai (NT)
- My thoughts: most of the defensive linemen are 4-3 ends. I have no reason to think that we are going to transition to the 4-3 scheme. So the only ones of interest here are at the NT position. I would really like to bring back Garay however any of the other three listed would be just as competent, if not more so, in my book.
LB: Mario Williams, Curtis Lofton, Anthony Spencer, Stephen Tulloch, Dan Conner, London Fletcher, EJ Henderson, DQwell Jackson, Manny Lawson
-My thoughts: Mario Williams. Then I would also be very interested in bringing in DQwell Jackson as an ILB. All he does is tackle in Cleveland - what I don't know is if that is because he is the only play-maker the browns have in their front seven.
DB: Brent Grimes, Carlos Rogers, Courtland Finnegan, Brandon Carr, Tracy Porter, Marcus Trufant, Terrell Thomas, Rhonde Barber, Tim Jennings, Jarret Bush
-My thoughts: It has been well published - my disappointment and lack of love for the Chargers DB situation. It has also been reasonably explained to me that Rookie draft picks in the early round still require a year or so in the league to really fall into their own and help out their team - unless you just get lucky. All that being said there are some interesting names on the list. Brent Grimes could be a good pickup but he is small. Same with Courtland Finnegan. Carlos Rogers has worse hands than Q-Jam. I did like Brandon Carr's performance last year and I think Tim Jennings plays good ball too. Jarret Bush has shown some potential when given the opportunity in Green Bay.
So those are my thoughts. What are yours?