Los Angeles Chargers free agency 2017: Top 5 targets

By Brad Weiss | Feb 20, 2017

Feb 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of San Diego Chargers navy blue helmet (1988-2006) and NFL Wilson Duke football at Santa Monica State Beach. NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to move the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. Chargers owner Dean Spanos (not pictured) has an option join the Rams in Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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The Chargers made the move to Los Angeles this offseason, and will have to make a splash in free agency to bolster their roster.

Different town, same Chargers? That is certainly not the hope of team owner Dean Spanos, who moved his Chargers from San Diego to Los Angeles this past offseason. The Chargers were hard-luck losers on numerous occasions last season, and will be looking towards the 2017 season with renewed hope.

While the AFC West is certain to be a dogfight in 2017, the Chargers do have some nice pieces in place. They are going to have to make a splash in free agency this season, as well as hitting a home run with the seventh overall pick in April’s Draft. If they can make some magic happen, Philip Rivers and company could find themselves fighting for a playoff spot next season.

Here is a look at five possible free agent targets for the Bolts heading into next season.

Morris Claiborne

CB, Dallas Cowboys

The Los Angeles Chargers need some help in their secondary, and luckily for them, this free agency period will yield some big names. While there is plenty of available talent out there, they may be no bigger name than Morris Claiborne. Claiborne is a shutdown cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, and he would be quite a grab for the Chargers if they can pull him away from Dallas.

The 27-year old Claiborne was a first round selection of the Cowboys back in 2012, as the LSU-product battled injuries and adversity from the beginning. When he is healthy, he is one of the better cornerbacks in the NFC East, but his inability to stay on the field has to be frustrating to those who can see his talent. The Chargers do have some nice pieces in place on the defensive side of the ball, and Claiborne would instantly fill a huge void in the secondary.

Claiborne needs a fresh start, and where better to start than a team playing their first season in a new city. He was playing very good football before a groin injury limited him last season, and while the Cowboys were able to get him to sign a one-year deal prior to the 2016 season, that is not likely to happen again. The Chargers can afford to take a shot on Claiborne, and if he can finally stay on the field, he could wind up being a great free agent signing.