NFL Columnist Wished Chargers Would've Pulled Off This Trade This Offseason

Is it too late to make this trade?

The 2022 Chargers' defense was not that good, to be modest. LA ranked last in run defense and was in the middle of the pack in overall defense. Going into 2023, they hope to be one of the best defenses in the league, and they didn't mess around in adding pieces to their defense. 

LA has the star power around them, and things seem pretty set on that side of the ball. However, the Chargers had a chance to add one of the best linebackers in the league via trade. Bleacher Report's NFL columnist Alex Ballentine listed seven trades he wished would've happened this offseason and had the Chargers acquiring Buccaneers LB Devin White in that list. 

Los Angeles Chargers Trade for LB Devin White

So when reports came out from

Jenna Laine and Adam Schefter

of ESPN that Devin White requested a trade, it made a lot of sense. The Bucs might be hesitant to offer him a new contract with a roster that has question marks going forward after an 8-9 record last season. Had the Bucs decided to act on his trade request, the Los Angeles Chargers would have been one of the best destinations. The Chargers have been a frustrating franchise since drafting Justin Herbert. They are 26-24 over the last three years with just one playoff appearance and no playoff wins to show for it. Part of it has been a defense that has just not been up to the task of supporting the offense. The Chargers were 21st in scoring defense and 30th in yards allowed per play (5.9). To be fair, injuries have not been kind to Brandon Staley's squads. They have Derwin James, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and J.C. Jackson on the roster, but Bosa and Jackson were both limited to five games last season. Adding White would give them another star defender in the middle of their defense. If all were to stay healthy, they would have had an All-Pro linebacker who could bring everything together.

Adding White to the Bolts would've been a massive upgrade to the defense and would've skyrocketed the championship odds for LA. Devin is one of the best linebackers in the league; he's still only 25 years old and already has a Super Bowl, second-team All-Pro selection, and a Pro Bowl. 

In a down year in 2022 for himself and the team, he still had 73 solo tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 16 QB hits. If White were a Bolt, they would be a lethal defense; however, I believe they still are with the pieces they have. 

The LSU alum would've been nice, but that's how the chips fell.