Chargers 2021 NFL Draft primer: Protecting Justin Herbert the priority

Who all did the Chargers gain and lose?

The off-season for the Chargers was a little more active than I think many of us had expected. They also lost a key piece of the offense in tight end, Hunter Henry, top-end tight ends as we have seen are not easy to replace. In all defense of them letting him walk, he was never really healthy and wanted a size-able long-term contract.

Along with Henry, they lost several other players who played over 50 percent of snaps.

They lost left guard Dan Feeney, left tackle Sami Tevi, and safety Rayshawn Jenkins. It is usually never good for a team to lose two of the most used linemen with a second-year quarterback. The 27-year-old Dan Feeney played 100 percent of snaps in 2020, which was a big blow to that team. Along with them, they lost a lesser-used player, but an important one nonetheless in linebacker Denzel Perryman.

There are still three top players from the Chargers sitting in free agency who they could bring back in cornerback Casey Hayward, pass rusher Melvin Ingram, and guard Trai Turner.

Did the Chargers fill those holes?

During free agency, they managed to get one of the best centers in football in Corey Lindsay from the packers. Which was a massive move for them showing they were committed to fixing the offensive line holes. They also got Matt Feiler at right tackle as well which, I expect him to stay there as they draft a left tackle. Kyle Fackrell at EDGE was a more quiet addition to the team but does give them more pass-rushing help.

They did not add any pass-catchers, which meant there is still a hole at tight end.

While they upgraded at the offensive line, they still left holes at tight end and safety. While they do have one of the better young safeties in the game in Derwin James, he can not do it alone. With the safety class being a little low on top-end talent, that might be more of an in-house fix than a draft one.