The Los Angeles Chargers have gone through substantial changes this offseason after firing former general manager, Tom Telesco, and head coach, Brandon Staley, mid season, and eventually replacing them with ex Baltimore Ravens exec, Joe Hortiz, and former San Francisco 49ers head coach and newly minted CFB National Champion, Jim Harbaugh.
A New Start For Jim Harbaugh’s Second California Team
Although defensively the starting lineup has stayed fairly continuous from the 2023 season, with both star edge rushers, Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack agreeing to pay cuts this offseason, the offensive side of the ball is set to look very different.
Out went veteran stars Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, the latter coming off what was looking to be his best season yet before missing the final four games of the season due to a pedal heel bruise, and in came 2024 2nd round draft pick, Ladd McConkey, and 2019 Pro Bowler, DJ Chark, alongside 2023 1st round pick, Quentin Johnston, who will be expected to step up and take a Sophomore leap after a disappointing rookie season.
The Los Angeles Chargers Looking For More Offensive Firepower After Passing On A Receiver At #5
However, even with McConkey and Joshua Palmer, who has been a reliable WR3 contributor, there is a lot of uncertainty over whether Johnston will be able to step up to the plate as a full time starter, whilst Chark has not put up a 1000 yard season since his sole Pro Bowl year, despite being a useful auxiliary piece.
In fact, in choosing behemoth tackle, Joe Alt, over potential future WR1s in Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers, the Chargers could be compromising their offensive playmaking in order to shore up what was a mediocre offensive line in 2023; one that would have been substantially worse were it not for the excellent play of All-Pro tackle, Rashawn Slater.
And whilst McConkey is arguably in the upper echelon of route runners from this year’s class, it will wait to be seen whether he can truly develop into that all-around #1 option of elite WRs.
Could The Los Angeles Chargers Could Trade For San Francisco 49ers Star Receiver
Consequently, it would make reasonable sense for the Bolts to go out and trade for exactly that: a bona fide number 1 wideout who is still very much in his prime at just 26 years old.
Enter Brandon Aiyuk, who has had a loud and tumultuous offseason in what has been very public contract negotiations with the San Francisco, who are coming off a devastating overtime loss in Super Bowl LVIII. (Fun (or not so fun if you are a Shanahan) fact, head coach, Kyle Shanahan, has called the offensive plays for the losing side on both of the 2 only Super Bowls that have gone to overtime).
With a video today emerging on social media, in which Aiyuk seems to assert that the 49ers do not want him back, it could well be that trading him is now their only realistic option available. And having just drafted wideout, Ricky Pearsall, with the 31st overall pick, this may well have been the end scenario the Niners had planned for.
CBS sports lists the Los Angeles Chargers as one of the top 5 trade destinations for Brandon Aiyuk, whilst Alex Kay of Bleacher Report suggests that both sides could be interested in a player for player + pick swap.
“Bosa has been struggling with injury in recent seasons but is still a force when available. He’s racked up 67 sacks in his first 93 career games and could be rejuvenated playing on the same defensive line as his brother Nick.
Los Angeles would need to add a premium pick to get this deal done. A 2025 second-rounder could do the trick, allowing San Francisco to move on from Aiyuk in exchange for both a much-needed edge rusher and an elite prospect in next year’s draft.”
The Los Angeles Chargers receive: Brandon Aiyuk.
The San Francisco 49ers receive: Joey Bosa + 2025 2nd round pick.
This is certainly an intriguing scenario, and one that, in theory would make sense for both sides. Joey Bosa would undoubtedly jump at the opportunity to rush the passer alongside his brother, with some fraternal competition quite possibly bringing out the best of both elite edge rushers.
Whilst, on the other hand, the Chargers get their guy and only give up a 2nd round pick in draft compensation, securing the main bulk of their future whilst giving up an asset they may release anyway in 2025.
Even better: both players get to stay in the same state and neither have to move too far from home.
Joe Hortiz’s more traditionally conservative approach and commitment to the draft and compensatory picks may perhaps reduce the likelihood of this trade, but this does honestly feel like it could be a win-win situation for two teams looking to compete in 2024.
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