The Los Angeles Chargers are on the tail end of the best offseason in the entire NFL. General Tom Telesco absolutely crushed the free agency period, adding defensive end Khalil Mack through a trade and signing cornerback JC Jackson. The Chargers continued their incredible success throughout the 2022 NFL Draft, where they made impressive selections in just about every single round. Despite all of this, there are still moves that Los Angeles can make to improve their roster. With that said, here are three trades the Chargers could make to round out their roster.
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Chargers Trade Targets To Complete 2022 Roster
3. Zack Baun
One of the worst positions on Los Angeles's roster is inside linebacker. The group was a dumpster fire in 2021, with Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, and several other players performing remarkably poorly throughout the year. The Chargers didn't really do much to improve the position in the offseason, as they're still set to start Murray and Tranquill. They absolutely need to do something to turn things around, because more suboptimal play at the position won't get them where they need to go.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, there aren't many top-shelf inside linebackers on the market. Instead, they should look for a high-upside prospect who won't cost much. New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun fits that description perfectly.
He hasn't really panned out during his time with the Saints. But, he does have top-tier traits at age 25. The Chargers should certainly be willing to take a flier on him. New Orleans would almost certainly trade him away for next to nothing. Acquiring Baun would at worst cost them a late-round pick, and at best would net Los Angeles a starting-caliber linebacker.
2. Daron Payne
This would be an absolute slam-dunk addition for the Chargers. Daron Payne is a fantastic interior defensive lineman. He's currently in a contract dispute with the Washington Commanders. Washington has made him available in trades, so he wouldn't be all that difficult to acquire. If Los Angeles is able to capitalize on Payne's availability, they'll find themselves a top-ten defensive tackle at a discount price. Payne is primarily a run defender. But, he showed his ability to rush the passer last season when he ranked second on the Commanders in quarterback hits. Payne is clearly a fantastic player, and the Chargers would be remiss to miss out on the opportunity to add a player like that.
Payne also fills a huge roster need. There's still a chance that Los Angeles is forced to start Jerry Tillery at defensive tackle. That would be a complete disaster. Tillery was one of the worst overall players in the entire league last year, so the Chargers need to find a way to put him on the bench. The other option to start next to Sebastian Joseph-Day is Austin Johnson, who doesn't inspire much confidence himself. Adding Payne would give the Chargers the best defensive line in the the NFL by a mile, so he's definitely worth pursuing.
1. Scotty Miller
Wide receiver is one of the most important positions on the football field, and the Chargers need to ensure that they have adequate depth at the position. They have three solid starters at the position in Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer, and Mike Williams. The rest of the receiver room doesn't look up to par. Jalen Guyton is solid, but he isn't a particularly good backup. The rest of the guys on roster aren't notable in the slightest.
Miller could come in and instantly provide a strong backup for the Chargers. He showed that he can play out of the slot and the outside during his time in Tampa Bay, giving himself impressive versatility. Miller has also been absolutely buried on the Buccaneers' depth chart, as he's currently listed as seventh in line for snaps. He would be easy to acquire, and the Chargers should take advantage of that.
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