The Los Angeles Chargers had as long of an offseason as any franchise in the NFL. Blowing a 27-0 lead during Super Wild Card Weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars had to leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouths.
On paper, this is a very strong team. 2023 is the year they have to make some noise as the roster could undergo some sizable changes in the near future given some of the salary commitments that were made to players on the team.
Los Angeles is projected to be more than $60 million over the cap in 2024. That will lead to some big changes soon before even accounting for the massive extension that Justin Herbert is sure to receive.
With just over $12 million in cap space available right now, the Chargers should look to continue shoring up their roster, providing them with the best chance to win this season. As suggested by Brad Spielberger of PFF, one such move should be adding more depth to the offensive line. In Spielberger’s opinion, Dalton Risner would be the ideal fit.
“The Chargers found a gem in 2022 sixth-round pick Jamaree Salyer, who figures to kick inside to left guard after earning a 75.9 pass-blocking grade as the starter at left tackle in 2022. That said, after moving on from flex offensive lineman Matt Feiler, the Chargers could stand to add depth on the interior behind two sophomore starters at the guard spots. Risner has been a consistently above-average blocker who excels in pass blocking, posting four straight years with a 69.5-plus pass-blocking grade.
Risner may very well prefer landing a starting gig, but perhaps the Chargers could sell him on the chance to play his former team, the Denver Broncos, twice a year. He also fits well in a very pass-heavy offense, which figures to be the situation under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.”
Risner would be a great insurance policy for a Chargers team that is relying on two relatively youthful options on the interior of their offensive line. Should their performance slip or they are forced from the lineup, the Kansas State product would be able to step into the lineup seamlessly.
At this point in the offseason, Risner could be waiting to see if a starting job opens up around the league. Unfortunately, injuries do happen and in the early portion of training camp some always occur around the league. But, he could certainly do worse than a one-year deal with the Chargers as a backup heading into the season.
A perfect fit for their scheme, Risner would have the chance to further boost his value should he get some playing time. It is surprising that he is available at this point in the offseason and Los Angeles would be smart to try and pounce on him now.
