The Los Angeles Chargers were able to break through during the 2022 season, making the postseason for the first time since the 2018 season. While it was certainly a step in the right direction, there is a lot more work to do for the Chargers to become contenders in the AFC.
Their offense is in good hands with Justin Herbert leading the way at quarterback and Austin Ekeler leading the backfield. The offensive line getting healthy for 2023 will certainly help stabilize the unit and help things be a little more consistent on that side of the ball. Defensively, there are some major changes needed.
Los Angeles struggled on that side of the ball, ranking 21st in points allowed and 20th in yardage. While the passing defense was relatively strong, surrendering the seventh-fewest passing yards in the league, the rushing defense was a mess.
The Chargers ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed and last in yards per carry at 5.4. The defense has bookend pass rushers in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa and a star-studded secondary with Derwin James Jr., Asante Samuel Jr. and J.C. Jackson, but they need to make upgrades to the second level.
The organization should search high and low for upgrades and could land one via trade. One player that would be a dream trade target for the Chargers is Devin White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers would prefer to keep White, but given their current salary situation, they may be forced to move on from their young star linebacker. Entering the final season of his rookie contract, White has a cap hit of $11.7 million, which could present issues for Tampa Bay.
Currently, more than $56 million over the cap, the Buccaneers’ front office is going to have to make tough moves to get compliant with the cap. That could include moving on from veterans locked into long-term deals and players approaching new ones, such as White.
The LSU product is a star linebacker, racking up 124 tackles, eight for loss and 5.5 sacks on the season. That kind of production would be perfect in the middle of the Chargers’ defense, but it won’t be cheap acquiring him.
For reference, Roquan Smith was traded during the season by the Chicago Bears to the Baltimore Ravens in the last year of his contract for a second and fifth-round pick. It would cost at least that, if not more, for the Chargers to land White from the Buccaneers. The No. 22 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was a suggested starting spot and it could take another early Day 3 pick to get the job done.
A trade would likely be contingent on an extension being signed because the Chargers have some salary cap concerns of their own heading into the offseason. But, it would certainly be worthwhile to fit White into the mix as he would provide them with a star at every level of their defense and help turn things around on that side of the ball.
