After a great season ended in huge disappointment for the Los Angeles Chargers, expectations are high heading into 2022. They have all the tools to make a deep run next season, including a ton of cap space to burn this free agency.
The Chargers and general manager Tom Telesco have over $55 million to spend this offseason, which means that LA will be making some huge signings. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on the team to get things right this offseason, though, as a single mistake could impact their cap situation for years.
With that being said, here are two free agents the Chargers should avoid at all costs in 2022.
Los Angeles Chargers' 2022 NFL Free Agency
2. Chris Harris Jr.
Chris Harris Jr. played for the Chargers last year, but Los Angeles should allow him to find a new home in 2022. He was aggressively mediocre in his last campaign, and 32-year-old cornerbacks seldom improve. Harris also plays in the slot, taking the position away from second-year corner Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel was good on the outside last season, but his lack of size means that he would probably be a better fit for the slot. While he can still make an impact, Harris just isn't a great fit for this defense. That combined with the fact that he's 32 should spell the end of his tenure as a Charger.
There are plenty of better cornerback options for Los Angeles. Signing Kyle Fuller would allow Samuel to move into the slot while putting a great corner on the outside. Fuller is also only 30 years old, which means he could fill that position for at least a couple of years. Other options include JC Jackson and Charvarius Ward.
Jackson would obviously demand a massive contract, but he would give the Chargers a proven, elite cornerback. Signing Ward would mean poaching him from the rival Kansas City Chiefs while getting a solid, albeit inconsistent defender. All of the options are better than investing more money in the aging Harris.
Los Angeles is in dire need of defensive improvements, but they shouldn't go after them in the form of Jadeveon Clowney. The former Cleveland Browns edge rusher is coming off a great statistical season, but the numbers can be deceiving. It's no coincidence that Clowney's best years have come when he's played on teams with Myles Garrett and prime JJ Watt. His pass rush win rate last season was only 11.7, which was close to the bottom of the league.
Clowney alone wouldn't contribute much more than Uchenna Nwosu does, a player who the Chargers already have on the roster on a cheap deal. Clowney also has a history of asking for more money than he's worth. There's just no reason to make this signing.
There are plenty of more reliable edge rushers the Chargers could pursue this offseason. Emmanuel Ogbah of the Miami Dolphins could provide a nice boost to the pass rush after notching nine sacks last year. Derek Barnett is a former first-round pick who never realized his full potential, but he has always been decent at worst. Both options will likely provide the same impact as Clowney at a lower price tag.