Los Angeles Chargers Saturday Mailbag: Trade bait players and more

For all your questions and topics surrounding the Los Angeles Chargers, here’s a weekly mailbag that covers it all…

Whether you’re returning from last week or just finding this for the first time today, welcome to the Los Angeles Chargers NFL Spin Zone Mailbag!

This weekly installment covers all things Chargers, from questions submitted by YOU! If you’d like to be a part of the mailbag (you should), go ahead and send your submissions to any one of these three:

1. Post in the comments section
2. On Twitter to @tjscooter30
3. By email (for longer submissions or multiple questions) at lacbag18@gmail.com

If you sent something in last week and do not see it answered down below, do not worry! It will be in the following mailbag OR will be turned into its own article. As for this article, let’s take a look…

Question 1: Since Barksdale himself raised the issue of his mental and physical condition last year, do the Chargers believe they will get 2016 Barksdale, or a repeat of 2017 Barksdale? What do you see as the pecking order for LT and RT – do you think Tevi or Schofield are ready to step up? -OP Bolt

Right off the bat, I just want to point out that Joe Barksdale’s “good year” was in 2015. Both 2016 and 2017 Barksdale were the more disappointing years in terms of overall play. In the middle of a four year, $22.2 million contract, he’s likely the penciled in starter heading into 2018.

Sam Tevi (last year’s sixth round selection) and Michael Schofield (signed to a two year deal) will be strong reserve options for the Bolts with potential to start if players in front of them get injured or under perform. One quick note on Schofield:

That gives me pause in assuming Schofield is just a backup at right tackle. Although he filled in for Barksdale at tackle in five different games last season, it looks like the former Denver Broncos third-round selection will get a chance to take snaps at guard and even be the starter until Forrest Lamp recovers. Tevi is going to be the immediate backup behind starting left tackle Russell Okung. It is very likely no one displaces Okung from his starting role having been a 2017 Pro-Bowler and 15-game starter. The pecking order should look like (starters in bold):

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LT: Russell Okung, Sam Tevi

RT: Joe Barksdale, Zachary Crabtree

Schofield and Lamp also have the versatility to play tackle, but for now let’s assume they’re playing the right guard spot. Hopefully the Chargers haven’t given up on the former playing tackle, as the team needs some depth behind Barksdale. I am a firm believer that, while Barksdale is not elite, or even really good, he should start. He isn’t incredibly expensive and has a lot of experience on this offensive line. Continuity is key, and when compared to the rest of the roster he has played more snaps with the Chargers than any other offensive lineman.

Question 2: Why is it that TT WON’T sign a FA player of need? I’ve seen SO many quality players sign contracts–one year deals, cheap. Yet, not with us?? Always been a question, I have no answer for. -Francis

The following are some of the “bigger name” signings by Tom Telesco that represent acquisitions at positions of need:

2013: CB Derek Cox

2014: CB Brandon Flowers

2015: LG Orlando Franklin

2016: CB Casey Hayward

2017: LT Russell Okung

2018: C Mike Pouncey

Say what you want about the end result of these players, but Telesco has a track record of signing free agent players of need. The results listed above are players who represent a splash signing, but do not include many other important roster additions in free agency. There’s a difference in never signing players of need and not signing a player to every position of need. Telesco clearly addresses needs, but maybe not at every position every year.

How do the Chargers expect to have re-signed elite players like Hayward, sign a Pro-Bowl center in Pouncey, and still comfortably enough to afford Joey Bosa, Hunter Henry, and Melvin Gordon soon if all of their money is allocated towards plugging every hole with every available player? As for one year deals, just as early as last season we saw Tre Boston come in on a cheap deal to play safety. Believe me, it’s frustrating that  Johnathan Hankins is sitting around without a contract, but we have to trust the path the Chargers’ GM and coaching staff has set the team on.

Question 3: Do you see any trade bait on the roster? If I were Tom Telesco, I would be trying to stockpile a couple of extra picks for the future. -OP Bolt

There’s a difference between players fans want to trade and players that actually serve as trade bait. The general consensus has been to try and get picks for guys like Jason Verrett, Tyrell Williams, Corey Liuget, and Travis Benjamin this offseason. Those are still possible trades, but I don’t consider them “trade bait” because the Chargers are not suckering another team fishing around for a hidden gem or starter into taking their player for return value. My picks would be:

Geno Smith/Cardale Jones: As of right now, I don’t see the Chargers getting any offers for these two guys. However, it is very possible that either or both go out and shine in the preseason. Most teams are not the Chargers, who have had the same elite quarterback for years and years and never missing a game. Teams are looking for a starter, and at the very least, a backup quarterback. I don’t think any team would jump in and assume either would start, but having a very capable backup is worth something in this league (ask the Eagles).

Filling in for a broken-starting-streak Eli Manning, Smith put up a respectable 21-of-34 for 212 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in his first game action in quite some time. If he had remained the starter for the rest of the 2017 regular season and put up similar numbers, he very well could have earned a decent contract with a needy team. If he balls out in the preseason and looks to have fixed some turnover issues, who knows? Maybe a team makes the phone call. And maybe the Chargers can get a late pick for a guy that not a lot of fans were thrilled to acquire.

Spencer Pulley:

Despite not proving himself an elite center option, Pulley has three things going for him:

1. Starting experience (a full 16-game season in 2017)
2. Flexibility (can play center and guard)
3. Potential

The Chargers are very lucky to have depth on the interior line with a guy who has legitimate starting experience and only costs $630K this year. However, he could potentially become expendable; the Bolts drafted interior offensive lineman Scott Quessenberry out of UCLA in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

If Quessenberry was drafted to eventually become the primary backup, Pulley, who is on the last year of his original deal, could be dealt. Why is he trade bait? Although I could sell you on experience and versatility, he truly didn’t have a great year as a starter. The Chargers would be hard-selling on potential, as Pulley is just 25 years old and appears to have come far from being an UDFA.

Next: NFL 2018: One breakout candidate for each team

That’s it for this Saturday edition! As soon as summer hits, I’ll be able to get to more and more of these questions. Do you disagree with anything I said? Fantastic! Let me know in the comments below. This article is designed for open discussion and debate, so the more you participate the more we can yell at each oth– I mean, have an intelligent and cordial discussion regarding the Chargers.

Here’s my parting question to you: Where will former Chargers’ safety Tre Boston end up? Right answer will get a shout out at the top of next week’s installment. Have a fantastic rest of your weekend, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!