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“Chargers–AFC West—AreYou Paying Attention?”

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Monday was the first day of NFL free agency, where teams can make contact with agents and players to express interest, make contract offers, and wait for reactions.

A lot of noise everywhere in the AFC-West except from the team that needs help, the Chargers.

All they have done is let players leave, or make no headway in retaining key free agents.

It appears they are letting big play WR-Tyrell Williams leave, this after coaching him into a pretty good protect the last four years or so.

They have jettisoned defensive end Corey Liuget and safety Jaleel Addae, two trusted warriors in the defense.

There has been no movement on veteran corner Jason Merrett, whose career has been about big injuries rather than big play.

No movement yet on Brandon Mebane, or the two young defensive lineman who have played a lot over the last years, Darius Philaw and Damon Square.

They have holes for sure.

Meanwhile on the other street corners in the AFC-West, things are moving at a frantic pace.

An amazing first day of free agency for the Raiders, of course they need help everywhere after wrecking the roster last season.

But they traded for the Steelers icon Antonio Brown, and his big play abilities and his big ego. Add to that the signing of Patriots starting left tackle Trent Brown, and the late Monday night addition of the Rams safety LaMarcus Joyner, and that is quite a haul.

The rumor mill says they might still be a player too for Le’Veon Bell of the Steelers before this week is out.

Keep in mind the Raiders have 4-of the top 34-draft picks, including those 3-number one choices still in their pocket.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs, who fired their defensive coaching staff, have let go their edge pass rushers, shopping linebacker Dee Ford and releasing veteran linebacker Justin Houston.

The Chiefs have spent a ton of money, landing Houston Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu, then added power running back Carlos Hyde, and probably aren’t done yet. Getting more defensive help for QB-Patrick Mahomes and that great offense is priority number one.,

Denver will have a new deep ball throwing QB in Joe Flacco, and just added big time right tackle Jaquan James from Miami and Kareem Jackson, a top flight corner from the Houston Texans. So they have fixed two chronic issues, quality quarterbacking and a stud right tackle, and added to the Von Miller led defense.

Yes it’s early, but an awful lot of difference maker players have come off the board just 24-hours into the wheeling and dealing. Teams have made 7-trades so far, and 24-free agents changed teams on day one of the bidding battles.

The Chargers had a rock solid acquisition last year in free agency, signing Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey away from the Dolphins. He was rock solid at a critical need position.

They have a reputation of being really conservative in free agency. Tom Telesco has been selective and spend-thrifty in throwing around Bolt dollars at this time of the year. He’s made some mistakes, made some good investments too.

Maybe he’s cautious, maybe Dean Spanos doesn’t really have the money, even though he is is Los Angeles now.

But the Chargers better move quickly, for teams around them in this division are loading up, just 24-hours into the signing period.

The Bolts better be paying attention; more importantly they need better players too.

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