A trio of Chargers has been tabbed as some of the top free agents in the league.
In PFF’s latest free agency rankings, linebackers Drue Tranquill and Kyle Van Noy and defensive lineman Morgan Fox were all listed as among the top 101 pending free agents in the league. Tranquill was ranked 65th, Van Noy 71st, and Fox 90th.
Tranquill broke out in 2022 with 105 tackles and five sacks as LA’s primary linebacking threat after Kyzir White left for Philadelphia prior to the season. He was also a strong coverage player for the second consecutive season and an incredibly efficient pass rusher, logging his five sacks in just 70 rushing opportunities. His versatility was much appreciated in Brandon Staley’s defense, and the question now becomes if Tranquill’s play has put him into a salary bracket the cap-constrained Chargers can’t afford.
Van Noy didn’t have the sort of role he or the Chargers initially envisioned in 2022. Billed as a hyper-versatile linebacker or EDGE rusher, Van Noy wound up primarily playing EDGE after Joey Bosa’s groin injury, and Chris Rumph’s ineffectiveness against the run necessitated reinforcements. While he was quiet in the first half of the season, the 32-year-old finished the year strong and is likely to play elsewhere in 2023.
Fox had arguably the best season of his career after reuniting with Brandon Staley following a brief detour to Carolina. With a pressure rate of 11.2%, he was one of the Chargers’ better pass rushers and one of their only threats from the interior defensive line in that area. His run defense left a bit to be desired, but he had to play a larger role in those situations as injuries ravaged the defensive line. If Fox comes back in 2023, it’s possible he plays more of a specialized role with the remainder of the line healthy. That said, he should have a healthy market as a rotational interior pass rusher.
Free agency begins on March 15.
