The NFL offseason started with a bang when the Denver Broncos made a blockbuster trade to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks.
Not to be outdone and to deal with the threat of Wilson, the Los Angeles Chargers made a deal of their own when they traded for Khalil Mack. The Chargers already boast a fierce pass rusher in Joey Bosa but now pair with him Mack to form one of the best duos in the league.
The Chargers’ Achilles’ heel was their defensive line as they had one of the worst run defenses during the 2021 season, but they found a great free agent solution in Sebastian Joseph-Day, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Former #Rams DT Sebastian Joseph-Day is expected to sign with the #Chargers, source said. He gets a 3-year deal worth $24M with $15M fully guaranteed. LAC doing work.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2022
Joseph-Day had a career year with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 as he was a key cog up front plugging gaps and slowing down opposing running backs. However, Joseph-Day also showed improved pass rush technique and figures to mix in with the rest of the Charger D-Line.
The move makes complete sense for the defensive tackle as he gets to reunite with former Rams defensive coordinator and current Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. Joseph Day’s familiarity with Staley and his scheme had to be a major factor in his decision, so unfortunately, the Rams have another void they need to fill.
The team does have internal options like Bobby Brown III and Marquise Copeland along with Greg Gaines to replace Joseph-Day, or they could opt to find someone in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. It is sad to see the charismatic Joseph-Day leave, but his new deal is well-deserved and he should fare well for the other Los Angeles team.