The Los Angeles Chargers were quick to potentially sign free-agent center Corey Linsley and protect their most prized possession: quarterback Justin Herbert.
Linsley, a standout with the Green Bay Packers for seven seasons, becomes the highest-paid player at his position with a five-year, $62.5 million contract, according to various reports on Monday.
The Chargers, coming off a 7-9 season and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, are bent on upgrading their shoddy offensive line after landing Herbert, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, in the 2020 draft.
Oft-injured right guard Trai Turner was released to save some $11 million in salary cap space. There’ll be more upheaval upfront with one-time starters center Dan Feeney, tackle Sam Tevi and guard Forrest Lamp becoming unrestricted free agents.
The 6-foot-1, 301-pound Linsley was durable and productive for the Packers since the fifth-round pick from Ohio State joined the starting lineup as a rookie in 2014. Last season Linsley was selected to his first All-Pro team as Green Bay advanced to the NFC title game.
The Chargers will continue to address the front line, an area in which general manager Tom Telesco has noted was lacking last season and is the key to the squad’s success next season.
Help could also arrive via the draft, with the Chargers having the 13th overall pick and four of top 100 selections.
To provide the financial flexibility to make a run at Linsley, and possibly others, L.A. also released Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward, which created another $10 million in cap room.
Some of those savings was reportedly used to retain cornerback Michael Davis on a three-year deal with a $15 million guarantee that has yet to be announced by the club. Davis had a career-high three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and 64 tackles last year.
Before the anticipated signings of Linsley and Davis, the Chargers had roughly $45 million of cap space, according to overthecap.com.
The Chargers also hope to keep standout tight end Hunter Henry with a long-term deal after declining to use the franchise tag on the unrestricted free agent.
"front" - Google News
March 16, 2021 at 06:11AM
https://ift.tt/3qSGt53
LA Chargers Are Front-And-Center By Reportedly Signing Free-Agent Corey Linsley To A Huge Deal - Forbes
"front" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3aZh1mr
https://ift.tt/3b2xvu5
No comments:
Post a Comment