Los Angeles Chargers Roster 2020 Los Angeles Chargers Roster

Top 3 Chargers Roster Questions of 2019-2020

Adding to the linebacking core

One of the Chargers biggest free agency concerns was improving their linebacking group. When free agency opened, that’s exactly what GM Tom Telesco did. He brought in Thomas Davis from Carolina and resigned Denzel Perryman to two year contracts of $10.5 and $12 million, respectively. While Davis wasn’t the biggest name out there or a huge difference maker, he’ll bring an impact player and flexibility to the linebacking position. Even at the age of 35, he was ranked the 19th LB in 2018 by Pro Football Focus. 

Meanwhile, Denzel Perryman will return to the middle linebacker position where he’s been a dominant force for LA during his four year career. He’s been a great clog in the running game and has seen consistent marks in his games. However, there is some injury risk with the resigning of Perryman. In his first 4 pro seasons, he’s yet to play a full year and only logged 16 games played over the past two seasons. While he’s a high ceiling player, Perryman needs to stay healthy and put up the same type of stats to make this a steal for the Chargers. Otherwise, paying $6 million a year for a player who’s only going to suit up for your team for half a season doesn’t seem like the best investment.

Backing Up Philip Rivers?

After backing up Phillip Rivers for one year, Geno Smith has departed and is now on the Seattle Seahawks. That left Cardale Jones as the Rivers’ backup and that front office quickly addressed that issue. Once Buffalo Bills starter Tyrod Taylor was brought in to shore up the backup spot with a two year, $11 million dollar contract. 

Though backup quarterbacks are usually nothing to be heralded about, Taylor brings an experienced QB that should be able to help out the team should anything happen to Rivers. In 3 starts with the Browns last season, Taylor was good for 473 passing yards and 2 TDs. However, he’s also a dual threat option and rushed for 125 yards and a TD in 2018. While Chargers fans likely won’t see much action from Taylor and probably won’t want to, he’ll be an experienced vet who the Chargers can depend on.

What’s the deal with Melvin Gordon?

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the Chargers is the uncertainty around Melvin Gordon. Throughout his career, Gordon has been a great running back and was projected to be one of the best heading into this year. However, reports are that Gordon either wants a contract or out of Los Angeles as he appears to be taking the same path that Le’Veon Bell took last year. While this is obviously a very bad look not only for the Chargers but for the entire NFL, someone will have to budge. 

Los Angeles doesn’t have any commitment after this season and might not want to fork over a large sum of money. At the same time, it’s unlikely a playoff bound team would want to part with their best player ahead of a win-now season. It’ll be interesting to see exactly which direction the team decides to go when they contemplate whether to trade their star running back or risk losing him for nothing.