Eric D. Williams, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Pro Football Focus: Tony Jefferson a fit for Chargers in free agency

Good morning.

In this ESPN Insider piece, Pro Football Focus identifies one player who is an unrestricted or restricted free agent that each NFL team should sign to jump-start their offseason.

For the Los Angeles Chargers, it’s Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson.

A San Diego native, Jefferson put up good numbers in 2016, finishing with 96 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. The Oklahoma product is an in-the-box safety who is a sure tackler and makes plays at the line of scrimmage.

My take: I like Jefferson as a player and believe he would be a good fit for the Chargers. However, I think the Chargers have a greater need for a nickel corner to replace Brandon Flowers, who’s mulling retirement, or a rangy free safety to patrol the back end of the defense.

Ricky Henne of Chargers.com talks with new linebackers coach Richard Smith. The former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator is making a quick transition with the Chargers and is helped by the fact that the Falcons ran a similar system to Gus Bradley’s 4-3 scheme.

My take: A Los Angeles native, Smith also coached with Chargers defensive backs coach Ron Milus while with the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, so that familiarity should help in his transition.

Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune says that the Chargers could be priced out of the Melvin Ingram sweepstakes if the talented edge rusher hits free agency.

My take: I agree, which is why the Chargers likely will slap the franchise tag on Ingram if the team cannot reach a multi-year deal with the South Carolina product before March 1.

Hayley Elwood of Chargers.com talks with Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt about his first year back with the organization.

My take: Whisenhunt points to curbing turnovers and becoming more efficient on third down and in the red zone as things his offense need to improve on in 2017. The Chargers led the league in turnovers last season with 35.

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