Chargers: Making the case for trading Jason Verrett

The Los Angeles Chargers have been relatively quiet compared to their LA counterparts. However, one move that could make sense for LA is trading Jason Verrett.

The Los Angeles Chargers drafted cornerback Jason Verrett in the first-round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Verrett was one of the most promising cornerbacks in the draft class and is still the only first-round corner to be named to an NFL Pro Bowl.

As great as Verrett has been, though, his biggest weakness has been his own health. Verrett has not been able to stay healthy for the Chargers. Verrett has played in just five games the last two seasons combined and has missed 39 of 64 games since being drafted.

In the past, that has raised complications for the Chargers. A thin secondary became custom on the Chargers, so did the losses. While Jason Verrett is definitely not to blame, his absence did play a role.

Not in 2017, though. Despite Verrett only playing one game for the Chargers, a reinvented secondary thrived. Casey Hayward emerged as a top-five cornerback in the league and rookie Desmond King had a pick-six to go along with four sacks. Safety Tre Boston was great, Jahleel Addae did his part. All in all, the Chargers’ secondary was not half bad.

More from LA Sports Hub

Now the Chargers look into the horizon with a ton of promise. Part of that promise includes the returning Verrett, who should be set to go for the start of next season. If Verrett can return to old form, the partnership alongside Hayward would be one of the best in football.

However, that is a huge “if”. Verrett has done nothing to give the Chargers hope that he can stay healthy. Quite frankly, him sitting on the sidelines only proved to the team that they can succeed without him.

All the pieces are aligning for one move to be made: the Los Angeles Chargers should trade Jason Verrett this offseason.

Verrett still has a ton of potential and could net the Chargers a decent return in exchange. One intriguing possibility is hauling in another first-round pick. With two first-round picks at their disposal, the Chargers would be able to draft Philip Rivers‘ successor and a respectable defensive tackle.

Heck, the Chargers could even float Verrett’s name as trade bait for a defensive tackle or inside linebacker. While there are no suitors that stand out, Verrett and a few late-round picks would be worth a solid player on a rebuilding team. Whether they go via the draft or directly in the trade, trading Verrett may be a fool-proof way to plug any holes in the run defense game.

And while it would be sad to see Verrett go, the team can obviously compete just fine without him. There comes a certain point when a player runs his course on a particular team; Jason Verrett has seemingly run that course.

Next: Draft prospects to avoid in the 2018 NFL Draft

If not, the Chargers will still form a respectable cornerback duo of Hayward and Verrett. However, if Verrett simply gets hurt again, everyone will be playing the age-old “what if?” card.

Home/Los Angeles Chargers