Three players who might follow Chad Alexander from the Jets to the Chargers

This week, the LA Chargers welcomed another new face to the front office when Chad Alexander left the New York Jets to take a position as assistant general manager under Joe Hortiz. Hortiz and Alexander collaborated extensively in Baltimore, so the hiring is not shocking at all.

Alexander played for the Jets for five seasons, during which time he surely developed relationships. These connections, especially with players, could influence the Chargers’ offseason roster-building decisions.

The Chargers are currently well over the salary cap, so they won’t have a lot of free agency money to spend this offseason. Nevertheless, a few inexpensive free agents might decide to follow Alexander from New York to Los Angeles.

We will keep this brief because we have already discussed Chuck Clark at Bolt Beat. The Chargers may not be able to add to the safety position early in the 2024 NFL Draft, so they will need depth at the position this offseason. Therefore, it could be best to sign a veteran free agent at a discount.

Coming off a season lost due to an ACL tear, Clark is close to thirty, was a reliable player when healthy, and has connections to both Alexander and the coaching staff. Clark will be inexpensive. The connection exists because Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, coached the Ravens’ defensive backs during Clark’s most successful season.

It would be a dangerous risk for the Chargers to take if Clark is the lone addition to the safety room. But Clark might be a very wise addition for the Bolts to make this summer if he’s a part of a larger plan.

2. Quinton Jefferson

Interior defensive line is another position on the Chargers roster that should be addressed in some capacity this offseason. The position is not completely bleak, but it would benefit from adding some depth, particularly of the veteran variety.

As it stands right now, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia and Scott Matlock round up the top three on the depth chart. Ogbonnia and Matlock are both young players with potential while Fox is an excellent pass rusher who has some holes in his run defense.

By making a smart free-agent signing and drafting a depth defensive lineman on day three, the Chargers can build quite the room. The Chargers should probably be looking for a veteran who can be serviceable both against the run and the pass. That is where Jefferson comes into play.

Jefferson is not going to be available at the league minimum but the Chargers could definitely bring him in for $5 million or less. The veteran defensive lineman would really allow Minter to be versatile with the packages he runs up front both in who Jefferson plays with as well as what position he plays on any given snap.

The Chargers do not need a big name to bolster the interior defensive line this offseason. All the team needs to do is sign someone like Jefferson.

3. C.J. Uzomah

Unlike the other two players on this list, C.J. Uzomah iion below the salary cap heading into thes not a free agent this offseason. However, Uzomah is a potential cap casualty for the Jets, who are just over $4 mill offseason.