HEADLINES

Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors

Lions Sign G Kenny Wiggins

March 15th, 2018 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins. Wiggins is listed as a guard in the press release, which is undoubtedly to the delight of the former Charger. 

Wiggins, who has experience at all five offensive line positions, was vocal about his desire to play solely at guard.

“I’ve always said the more you can do, the less you get paid,” Wiggins said in January. “It’s the truth. You’ve got to be able to play in one spot and play it well. If you can play a bunch of spots but you play them mediocre, then you’re not going to get paid. Me playing every game at guard and locking down the spot, and being able to show people that I can be an everyday starter — go out there, stay healthy and be a contributor on our line — I think that speaks volumes.”

Wiggins wound up starting at right guard last season for the Chargers due to injuries. He played played 999 snaps, good for second-highest on the Bolts’ offensive line. As a whole, the Chargers’ offensive line performed well, allowing a league-low 18 sacks as Melvin Gordon topped 1,100 rushing yards.

For what it’s worth, the advanced numbers weren’t fond of Wiggins’ play. Pro Football Focus rated him as just the 74th ranked guard in the league out of 82 qualified players.

As shown on Roster Resource, there could be an opening for Wiggins to start at one guard spot with T.J. Lang at the other. However, if the Lions wind up signing Matt Slauson after his visit, Wiggins may wind up either as a reserve.

Lions To Meet With Matt Slauson

March 15th, 2018 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Chargers free agent guard Matt Slauson is visiting the Lions on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Slauson was ranked as PFR’s fifth best interior lineman available heading into free agency. 

Slauson, 32, started seven games at left guard the Chargers before being shelved in October with a biceps injury. He also offers previous experience at center. Last year’s starting center, Travis Swanson, is a free agent, so they could be eyeing Slauson to be their new starter in the middle.

Alternatively, Graham Glasgow could be shifted over to center with Slauson displacing Joe Dahl at one starting guard spot. For a complete look at the Lions’ offensive line situation and overall depth chart, check out their page on Roster Resource.

Contract Details: McCarron, Green, Jones, Bushrod, Davis

March 15th, 2018 at 11:46am CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

  • A.J. McCarron, QB (Bills): Two years, $10MM. $3MM in 2018, $7MM in 2019. $1.1MM of ’19 salary guaranteed for injury. 2019 salary fully guaranteed on Day 5 of 2019 league year. Bills would incur $2MM dead-money charge by cutting McCarron after one season (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
  • DaQuan Jones, DE (Titans): Three years, $21MM, $14MM fully guaranteed at signing. $6MM base salary for 2019 fully guaranteed (per Caplan).
  • Virgil Green, TE (Chargers): Three years, $8.6MM, $5.9MM fully guaranteed, which covers the first two years of this deal (per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
  • Cody Davis, S (Jaguars): Two years, $5MM, $2.5MM fully guaranteed. Deal contains option bonus due 22 days before the start of the 2019 league year (via Caplan).
  • Jermon Bushrod, OL (Saints): One-year deal (via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18

March 14th, 2018 at 4:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

RFAs

Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):

Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

Chargers Sign TE Virgil Green

March 14th, 2018 at 3:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Virgil Green is sticking around the AFC West. The Chargers are signing the free agent tight end, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Green, who spent his entire seven-year career with Denver, had 14 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown last season. The former seventh-round pick has one receiving TD to his credit in each of the last four campaigns, but his real bread and butter is blocking. While Pro Football Focus ranked Green an underwhelming 63rd among 71 tight end candidates, his blocking grade was fourth at the position. Green was listed as the fifth-best tight end in our positional free agent rankings.

[RELATED: Chargers Depth Chart]

The Chargers will likely rely on Green as a blocking tight end. Former second-rounder Hunter Henry sits atop the depth chart, and the team is also rostering Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman. Meanwhile, long-time tight end Antonio Gates is considering retirement.

Chargers Re-Sign Adrian Phillips

March 14th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers have re-signed safety Adrian Phillips, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, the club announced.

An original round RFA tender for Phillips would have been worth $1.907MM, so the Titans presumably signed him to a cheaper pact. However, RFA tenders are non-guaranteed, so players often have incentive to accept a reduced overall rate in exchange for some level of guarantees.

Phillips, 25, appeared in 15 games and more starts for Los Angeles in 2017. He will provide depth in the event fellow safety Tre Boston does not re-sign with the Bolts.

Chargers Re-Sign OT Michael Schofield

March 14th, 2018 at 10:07am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have agreed to a two-year deal with tackle Michael Schofield, according to James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter). Schofield was ticketed for free agency, but he’s now under contract through the 2019 season. 

[RELATED: Chargers Depth Chart]

Schofield, 28 in November, appeared in 15 games with five starts for the Bolts last season. Before that, he started for the Broncos at right tackle in 2015 and at right guard in 2016.

The Bolts claimed him off waivers in September of last year, but they weren’t the only team after him. The Lions, Redskins, Vikings, and Saints all tried to snag him, but the Chargers won out due to their higher position in the waiver order.

Schofield graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 61 ranked tackle last year, per Pro Football Focus. His best season, by their measure, was in ’16 when he was playing on the interior.

While it’s possible Schofield could return as a starter, that’s only likely to occur if Los Angeles parts ways with right tackle Joe Barksdale. The Chargers do have other offensive line free agents, including Matt Slauson, Kenny Wiggins, and Michael Ola, so Schofield will serve as critical depth, at the least.

Sebastian Janikowski To Meet With Chargers

March 14th, 2018 at 9:56am CST by Zachary Links

Former Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski is expected to visit the Chargers, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Raiders opted against re-signing Janikowski, leaving him to explore the open market.

Janikowski, who turns 40 on March 2, will leave the Raiders as one of the most well-known figures in franchise history. He also has his place in the record books with franchise records of 268 regular season games played and 1,799 points scored. Meanwhile, he has the most field goals from 50+ yards in NFL history with 55.

Los Angeles ranked 31st in special teams DVOA a season ago, and was (by far) the worst kicking team in the league. Not only did the Chargers give up 22.2 points of field position through their paltry field goal/extra point attempts, but the club’s first two losses of the season were direct results of poor kicking efforts.

The Chargers used four different kickers in 2017, and while they may have interest in re-signing at least one (Nick Novak), Janikownski could take precedence.

Chargers To Use 2nd-Round Tender On Tyrell Williams

March 12th, 2018 at 1:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having risen from UDFA to key Philip Rivers target over the past two years, Tyrell Williams could be in position to command a lucrative contract a year from now.

But for now, the Chargers will protect him from the market. Los Angeles will place a second-round tender on Williams, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter), but it doesn’t sound like the Bolts are averse to dealing him.

The Chargers have Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin and 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams in the fold. As Williams enters a contract year, that could make him an odd man out as Dontrelle Inman was a year ago. Schefter reports Williams has drawn trade interest. Were he to play 2018 on the tender, Williams would earn $2.914MM.

Williams, 26, caught 69 passes for 1,059 yards in a breakout 2016 campaign. That led the Bolts. With Allen back in the fold as Rivers’ top target last season, Williams hauled in 43 passes for 728 yards. He’s scored 11 touchdowns the past two years.

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