San Diego Chargers Top Free Agent Targets

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola (51) runs onto the field during the pre game introductions against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Bills beat the Lions 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

C Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions

With a last name that sounds like an Italian pasta dish, Dominic Raiola was a phenomenal center for the Lions from the year he was drafted in 2001 to the present. From 2002-2014, Raiola started every single game he played and started 16 games for the Lions a total of 11 times throughout his career.During that time, he has been called for holding only 17 times, while being called for a false start just 15 times. That’s an average of little over two penalties per season.

Not to mention, his 27.0 sacks allowed in his 14 NFL seasons is the lowest among centers. In 2014, Raiola started 15 games and allowed just 2.5 sacks all season (according to SNY.com). In essence, this guy is experienced and this guy is good. The problem with Raiola is that he is 36 years old and is way past his prime.

In a recent interview with reporters he said, “Obviously, I still think I can play. I think a bunch of people probably don’t think I can, but a bunch of people haven’t took a snap in the NFL, either. I don’t know, I’m just digesting this right now with my family and talking to people. I mean, I still think I have some football in me.”

With that said, Raiola does have about one or two good seasons left in him before he retires. Tolesco could take a gamble and bring Raiola in for a season or two while the Bolts develop one of their younger centers, but the fact of the matter is that Nick Hardwick is a free agent and is probably not coming back to San Diego anytime soon.

Raiola has been known to be a dirty player on the field, but perhaps it is that ‘chip on the shoulder’ mentality that has given him so much success over the years. The Chargers have never really had any ‘chip on the shoulder’ type of players, maybe 2015 is where the Bolts stop getting nice and start getting serious.

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