Los Angeles Chargers – Kwon Alexander
A rash of injuries at the linebacker position has forced Gus Bradley to move multiple safeties into the position for the stretch run. Bradley deserves credit for keeping his defense afloat despite the lack of healthy linebackers, but it’s not something the franchise should bank on moving forward.
That makes Kwon Alexander a terrific free agency target for the Chargers. The Buccaneers clearly want to keep their starting inside linebacker, but the two sides are still disagreeing over exactly how much Alexander is worth. That could give the Chargers an opening they can capitalize on.
His size makes him a really good fit for Bradley’s scheme. Alexander isn’t great when he’s asked to play in space, but that’s not what the Chargers want from their linebackers. They want guys who can fill the box against the run and that’s Alexander’s specialty.
Expect the Chargers to examine a number of different defensive targets in free agency. Someone like Barr, or even a high impact safety could easily draw big time interest from Los Angeles. Adding a big, physical linebacker like Alexander should be the team’s top priority in the offseason. The apt question is whether the better value is present in free agency or the draft.