Chargers News: Safety FA Market Down, Beneficial For John Johnson III Pursuit

Johnson III has yet to be signed amidst down safety market

If free agents were hitting the market this year and expecting NFL teams to throw the money at them, many have come out disappointed. We have seen a good amount of one-year contracts given out already and the market continues to simmer as teams are being very careful who they invest their cap into.

Your Los Angeles Chargers are among those teams and haven't made many moves in the past few days. There was said to said to be mutual interest in Dalton Schultz but the Houston Texans secured him on Tuesday. However, despite no updates just yet, LA has still been heavily linked a recently released safety.

John Johnson III is one of the best names in free agency that has yet to join a team and it feels like everybody is assuming he'll end up in powder blue. Fans of the Bolts have been wondering what the hold up is and if you take a look at what contracts other safety's have signed to this past week, you may just find an answer.

Outside of Jessie Betts, who inked a four-year-$64 million deal, the safety market has been very low this offseason. Julian Love is young and coming off a career-year with the Giants and only garnered $12 million over two years. Then, there is Chauncey Gardner-Johnson who only got a one-year deal worth $8 million despite leading the NFL in interceptions. 

John Johnson III takes down Baker Mayfield! 😤 pic.twitter.com/6wTliz42kc

— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) September 11, 2022

With that being said, there is probably a current gap between what the team is looking to pay Johnson and what he personally is seeking. Johnson has been consistent on the defensive end these past few seasons and would certainly help LA but they won't bring him in on a big price tag.

Derwin James is the primary safety for the Chargers and they took care of him with a big contract last offseason. Fresh off of 115 tackles and a Pro-Bowl selection in 2022, he will be handed the keys once again. Therefore, LA should be able to add Johnson on a small deal like these other free agents.