The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.
The Chargers made just one notable external free agent signing this offseason, adding linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Kendricks returned to California, where he was born and played college football at UCLA after spending the past eight seasons with the Vikings.
Kendricks, 31, was selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. His best season came in 2019 when he was named to the Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro recognition. He led the team in tackles in seven of his eight years with the team.
Last season, he started in all 17 games, where he tallied 124 tackles and one sack.
Kendricks, the former All-Pro and Pro Bowler, is one of the more decorated veteran linebackers in this league. Not only will his play-making be a boost to the positional room but so will his experience and leadership to aid a young group.
Kendricks is set to wear the green dot this season as the primary defensive communicator and the one who relays Brandon Staley’s play calls in from the sideline.
Contract (2023): Kendricks signed a 2-year, $13,250,000 contract, including a $5,500,000 signing bonus, $6,750,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6,625,000.
Acquired: On Mar. 14, 2023, Kendricks signed.
Quote: Staley on Kendricks:
“For a player of his caliber, of his accomplishments — he’s an All-Pro, Walter Payton Man of the Year, this is one of the top players that has position over an entire decade — so that respect means a lot. I’m really happy that he’s proud to be a part of us. I love that the fact he’s fit in so well with his teammates.
I know that he’s going to help us be a championship-caliber team. I think that should make all of us feel like we’re on the right track,” Staley continued. “But I also know that he is going to really add to what we have. He’s going to help make our culture even better, even stronger.”
Highlight:
Eric Kendricks with some nice range to go from over the center to making the stop outside the numbers. pic.twitter.com/0uWJakFq2Z
— mike (@bengals_sans) September 13, 2021
