The Chargers offseason is not so great without re-signing Tre Boston

The Los Angeles Chargers have not done much this NFL offseason. Without re-signing safety Tre Boston, the offseason is at risk of being a failure.

The Los Angeles Chargers have not done much this offseason. What the team has done, however, have been smaller moves with a purpose.

Los Angeles’ first, and best, signing of the offseason was to bring in former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey. An already solid offensive line turned into a great offensive line with Pouncey under center. With returning second-round pick Forrest Lamp alongside Russell Okung, Dan Feeney, Joe Barksdale and now Pouncey, Philip Rivers should have protection.

Speaking of Rivers, the Chargers signed some cushion behind him. Former New York Jets starting quarterback Geno Smith inked a one-year deal with the Chargers. Smith is by no means a long-term candidate to replace Rivers; simply an insurance move behind Rivers to compete with Cardale Jones as the backup.

One big internal move was made as well. The Chargers extended Casey Hayward for another three seasons following a breakout year. This is exactly what they should have done; Hayward was by far the best corner for the Chargers last season and was key in the surprisingly good defense.

Now, that focus should primarily shift to bringing back another key asset in the Chargers pass-defense last season: Tre Boston. The Chargers signed the long-time Carolina Panthers safety to a one-year deal last offseason.

More from LA Sports Hub

Boston excelled. Boston registered 79 combined tackles, according to Pro-Football-Reference, with eight pass deflections and five interceptions. While he may not be a hard-nosed hitter like some safeties in the league, he was the perfect ballhawk to pick up the scraps left behind by the menacing pass-rush.

If the Chargers fail to re-sign Boston then the offseason would be considered a huge failure. Although the team got much better elsewhere, Boston is a huge piece of the defensive puzzle that cannot be replaced.

The free agent class is not nearly as good, with Boston arguably being the best option available.

And while the NFL Draft is always an option, drafting a defensive tackle is basically a foregone conclusion. Sure, the team could use a second or third-round pick. However, the safety class is not the deepest and a second or third-round pick may not be able to fully replace Boston.

Thus, the Chargers should be willing to give Boston the slight pay raise he may ask for or the long-term security of a multi-year deal. I understand why the Chargers may be hesitant. His career prior to landing in LA was not great.

However, it is obvious that Tre Boston is an excellent fit in the Chargers’ defense and should remain an anchor in the secondary.

Next: Who should the Chargers draft in the first-round?

If not, well, it will cast an overlapping negative shadow on every good move that the team has made this offseason.

Home/Los Angeles Chargers