LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Perfect Chargers Free Agent Signing Still Available for Playoffs

Los Angeles has an opportunity to sign a former Pro Bowl defensive end before the postseason.

By Joe Summers

Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The Chargers are preparing for a Week 18 showdown with the Raiders hoping to jump to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture, but the defense has battled nagging injuries and looked leaky at times over the latter half of the season.

Los Angeles should do all it can to ensure they've exhausted all options. One perfect potential defensive addition just became available and the Chargers need to consider signing him.

Former Pro Bowl DE Yannick Ngakoue was released by the Patriots this week as a sign of goodwill so that he could join a team in the postseason. He went unclaimed on waivers, so he could be an ideal acquisition for a Chargers team built on sound defense.

Chargers Should Sign Pro Bowl DE Yannick Ngakoue for Playoff Push

While he hasn't been overly effective in 2024, Ngakoue notched 23.5 sacks from 2021-2023 and would be a serviceable rotational piece along the defensive line. He grades as just the 167th defensive end out of 205 players at Pro Football Focus, but it's easy to imagine him regaining his strong form when surrounded by better talent than the Patriots provided.

The Chargers like to keep their defensive linemen fresh, keeping everyone aside from Joey Bosa below 65% of the snaps over the last three weeks. While the defense ranks 13th in opponent yards per play (5.3), the group is feeling the effects of a long season, falling to 27th (5.9) during that previous three-week stretch.

Considering Los Angeles likely can't rest its starters in Week 18, pending Saturday night's results, these banged-up players won't have time to heal up before the Wild Card round. Even if Ngakoue doesn't become an important part of the team, he represents an insurance policy should anyone get hurt.

It'd also serve as an audition throughout practice in case the Chargers want to bring him back in 2025. Jim Harbaugh has quickly rebuilt this team in his image, and he could do far worse than a 29-year-old pass rusher who once notched 45.5 sacks across five seasons.

This is a scary team that could shock the world in the playoffs. Given the opportunities ahead, the front office needs to strongly consider signing Ngakoue to maximize the defense's potential.

More Los Angeles Chargers News:

feed

Home/Los Angeles Chargers