Fansided

NFL Free Agency: 5 Best moves so far

By Ryan Phillips

Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs with the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi
Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs with the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi /
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Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos guard Orlando Franklin (74) reacts against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos guard Orlando Franklin (74) reacts against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego Chargers sign Orlando Franklin (five years, $36.5 million)

The San Diego Chargers had one job this offseason: improve the offensive line. General manager Tom Telesco got that process started by re-signing massive left tackle King Dunlap before free agency opened, and continued it by reeling in Orlando Franklin.

Franklin was one of the two elite guards available in free agency (along with Mike Iupati) and if not for salary cap issues, the Denver Broncos certainly would have tried to bring him back. It’s no surprise San Diego targeted the 27-year-old, since Chargers head coach Mike McCoy was Franklin’s offensive coordinator for two seasons in Denver.

Franklin’s first job will be to help the Chargers establish some semblance of a running game. In 2014, San Diego finished 30th in the NFL with just 85.4 rushing yards per game. That has to change if the team wants to contend and take pressure off quarterback Philip Rivers.

Rivers was constantly running for his life in 2014 and if you’ve seen the 33-year-old run before, you know that’s a bad thing. Thanks to a porous offensive line, Rivers also suffered back and rib injuries that hampered him for the second half of the season. Franklin will immediately help shore up what was a horrendous interior of the offensive line.

Franklin is likely to wind up at left guard in San Diego (though he can also play right tackle) and that means he will bring his 6-foot-7, 320-pound frame to a left side of the line that also has King Dunlap (6-foot-9, 330-pounds). I really can’t remember a more imposing tackle/guard combination in NFL history. For opposing defensive linemen it will be like trying to outmaneuver Groot and his twin brother…who is almost certainly also named Groot.

Franklin’s deal won’t break the bank for the Chargers, as it will average $7.3 million per year and carries $20 million in guaranteed money. This may have been the best deal during the first week of free agency.

Next: Frank Gore

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