Los Angeles Chargers next quarterback set up for success
For the first time in decades, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback situation is up in the air. Whoever steps in will be in a great situation, however.
With the departure of Philip Rivers, the Los Angeles Chargers don’t have a clear-cut franchise quarterback for the first time in under 20 years. The team and head coach Anthony Lynn have verbally expressed their support and backing of Tyrod Taylor as the next starting quarterback for the Chargers.
Taylor brings veteran and playoff experience to a team that, on paper, is absolutely loaded all around. Whether the Chargers draft a quarterback in the first round — such as Justin Herbert, Jordan Love or even Tua Tagovailoa — or not, they will have a very good situation at quarterback. Taylor is a proven solid starter and can be an ideal bridge-quarterback until the potential heir-apparent is ready. He’s also as good a backup as a team can have.
As previously mentioned, whoever is the next quarterback for the Chargers is will have a loaded roster around him.
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Last season, the Chargers were seen as one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments, going 5-11 just one year removed from a 12-4 season and Divisional Round exit. Much of this loaded roster had to do with a litany of injuries and the declining play and inclining age of Rivers.
Coming into this offseason, the only real “weaknesses” the Chargers needed to fill was quarterback, obviously, and guard. Well, they traded inconsistent tackle Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers for perennial Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner. To replace Okung, the Chargers signed Bryan Bulaga, who has made a career out of protecting Aaron Rodgers for a decade. These players being added to a veteran unit all of a sudden has the Chargers’ offensive line potentially being seen as a strength.
Elsewhere on the offense, all-around back Austin Ekeler will return after a breakout season to fill the void Melvin Gordon left, which he has experience doing during Gordon’s holdout a year ago.
Wide receiver Darius Jennings comes over from the Tennessee Titans to be another pass-catching weapon to go along with an already potentially lethal crew consisting of the aforementioned Ekeler, the returning tight end Hunter Henry, and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. This is an embarrassment of riches for any quarterback to have.
We haven’t even gotten into the defense either this offseason. Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph will clog up the middle of an already deadly pass rush, while cornerback Chris Harris Jr. coming over from the division rival Denver Broncos will bring veteran leadership to a young and talented secondary.
Meanwhile, linebacker Nick Vigil will have a chance to truly shine with the Chargers in Los Angeles after being almost hidden with the Cincinnati Bengals.
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All in all, the Chargers did not have many holes to fill quantity-wise. The holes they needed to fill were filled with great aplomb, choosing more “quiet” acquisitions as opposed to the big “splash” ones. Now there is only the quarterback remaining, also the most pivotal. Thanks to this offseason and offseasons prior, whoever the starting quarterback of the future is will already be set up for tremendous success right out of the gate.