Los Angeles Chargers: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

5. Caleb Sturgis, K (from Philadelphia Eagles)

What in the name of Rolf Benirschke is going on? These day, the Chargers are going through placekickers like the Cleveland Browns go through quarterbacks. The instability at the position in recent seasons has been almost embarrassing, most notably this past year. So did general manager Tom Telesco find the answer in the form of an experience specialist who was out of action for the vast majority of 2017?

Caleb Sturgis was a fifth-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 2013. In two seasons in South Florida, he proved to be a bit erratic. He combined to connect on 55-of-71 field goal attempts, missing eight tries in each of his first two campaigns. He was cut loose by the ‘Fins and latched on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015. After two fairly solid years, he was lost in Week 1 with a hip injury and missed the remainder of 2017. This offseason, he signed with the Bolts.

A year ago, the Bolts wound up releasing Josh Lambo before the start of 2017 and would go through four different placekickers. It began with YoungHoe Koo, but he struggled and gone after four games. Veteran Nick Novak looked to be the answer in his second stint with the team. But he would go down with a back injury (forcing punter Drew Kaser briefly into kicking duties). Novak would be replaced by Travis Coons, who was fairly effective in three contests. The season ended with Nick Rose – who spent time with the Washington Redskins in 2017 before suiting up for the Chargers’ final two outings.

It’s safe to say that head coach Anthony Lynn is hoping Sturgis can be a year-long solution to a problem that cost the club dearly this past season.

Next: No. 4