With the news that the longtime Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will enter free agency this offseason, it's only fair to closer examine Rivers' fit under Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn who had been with the team since 2017.
Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Rivers never fit Lynn's preferred style of play and wasn't to the type of quarterback that he wanted. According to Rapoport, Lynn typically favored a more athletic, mobile style quarterback, similar to what the team has in backup Tyrod Taylor.
From NFL Now: Philip Rivers was never the kind of QB that #Chargers coach Anthony Lynn envisioned. Now, Los Angeles can go find his successor and Rivers can take one more shot at it with a new team. pic.twitter.com/Qzc6wAqGT4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2020
Regardless, with Rivers and the team now mutually agreeing to part ways this season and Los Angeles set to pick sixth in the upcoming NFL draft, the team has a chance to move on from the Rivers era that lasted from 2004 until 2019.
Several quarterback prospects have been mocked to the Chargers in recent weeks with Oregon's Justin Herbert and Alabama's Tua Tagovaoiloa being the most common.
Both Tagovailoa and Herbert have the ability to extend plays with their legs and scramble when needed. Other than those two, Utah State's Jordan Love and Washington's Jacob Eason are possible options.
Despite making the Pro Bowl the season prior Rivers was unable to put up the same level of production for Los Angeles in 2019. The 38-year-old quarterback completed 66.0 percent of his passes for 4,615 yards and 23 touchdowns but also threw 20 interceptions — the third-highest mark in the NFL.
If the Chargers decide to stick it out with Taylor next year or until a rookie quarterback is ready, Lynn is familiar with the former Virginia Tech star as he coached Taylor in Buffalo before getting the job in Los Angeles.
Follow Us
Subscribe