ESPN calls sticking with the offensive line Chargers boldest offseason move

ESPN's Mike Sando reviewed all 32 NFL teams and selected each team's boldest move of the offseason. It should come as no surprise to anyone that followed national coverage of the San Diego Chargers that he chose as the Chargers' boldest move their choice to retain nearly the entire offensive line from 2015. For those of you that have managed to block out memories of the season, allow me to recap. Injuries were suffered by all five starters. The center position, especially, was shown to be woefully undermanned. Most "experts" read this as meaning the Chargers needed to upgrade at left tackle.

Sando, in particular, wrote of the decision to maintain the line:

The offensive line was a primary weakness in 2015, putting pressure on Philip Rivers while bogging down the running game. The Chargers' need for pass-rush help was arguably greater, however, and so the team used the third overall pick on Joey Bosa. San Diego is banking on King Dunlap and Orlando Franklin staying healthy. Chris Watt, Trevor Robinson and Max Tuerk are all coming off surgeries. San Diego appears vulnerable to another rough season along the line.

The most obvious name missing from that recap is one Matt Slauson. The former Chicago Bear is not merely insurance in the event that Tuerk is not ready; he is arguably the best interior lineman on the roster. And despite the fact that the weakness of last year's line was on the interior, the "failure" to upgrade at tackle somehow suggests a boldness of strategy. Also, never you mind the fact that Eugene Monroe is a free agent and that the Chargers have been rumored to be in the market for his services.

The upgrade along the interior of the line coupled with the return of Ken Whisenhunt and his quick-passing offense should alleviate the problem that was 2015's offensive line, but some narratives are tougher to kill than others.

Anyway, let us know in the comments what you think of Sando's article and what move or moves you thought were the boldest decisions of the Chargers offseason.