There’s still time between now and training camp for teams to improve their rosters. And with plenty of free agents left on the market, here’s a few the Chargers should consider.

Free Agent S John Johnson III

Former Rams FS John Johnson III – Nick Cammett/Diamond Images

The Chargers should consider bringing free agent safety John Johnson III back to Los Angeles, where he previously spent the first four years of his career with the Rams. Staley coached him there, which means he should have some familiarity with the concepts, but more importantly, he might make for a nice fit opposite Derwin James.

While James is an incredible talent in his own right, to really take advantage of his ability, you need a safety opposite him who you trust enough to let James do some more unconventional things in terms of positioning and scheme. Alohi Gilman may be serviceable enough, but Johnson’s PFF grade is about eight points higher, and he can be more dependable. The move would also give the team some much-needed depth at the position, as Johnson could fill in at strong safety if James were to miss some time.

Free Agent RB James Robinson

I know last year wasn’t impressive for James Robinson. And getting cut by the Patriots wasn’t exactly a great look. But that might make Robinson the right option for some added depth to the running back room of the Chargers on the cheap. If the Chargers want to add a free-agent running back, one might wonder why I might not suggest someone like Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott.

I don’t think the fit makes enough sense for either. Those backs need the ball consistently to get going. And I don’t think the Chargers will take Austin Ekeler off the field enough for that to make sense. But Robinson might be the right mix of everything the Chargers need out of a back. He could handle longer stretches if needed, but he should also be serviceable in shorter bursts. Where he might provide the most value, though, is in the red zone.

Ekeler has led the league in all-purpose touchdowns each of the last two years, but it should be recognized that the red zone contains some of the most physically punishing yards for a back. And losing Ekeler in the midfield, where he provides so much value to the offense, for the sake of some red zone carries, would be a massive hit to the team.

Robinson, though, might provide a solid red zone option as he has plenty of experience working there. Aside from a healthy Herbert, Ekeler remaining healthy might be the most critical key to the success of the Chargers this year, even if it may be his last with the team. The ability to spell him with Robinson might help keep Ekeler fresh while not losing too much production.

Free Agent QB Carson Wentz

Former Commanders QB Carson Wentz (11) – Kamil Krzaczynski/AP Photo

This suggestion might be the most controversial choice on this list. After all, there’s a reason Carson Wentz is still a free agent. He’s never seemed to be a particularly willing backup, and some questions about how he fits in locker rooms have plagued his career.

That said, Wentz has never entered a season as a clear backup. And he’s also never had a quarterback like Justin Herbert ahead of him. So if he’s serious about willingly accepting a backup role, a team with a QB like Herbert might make a lot of sense. And whatever the potential downside of Wentz, that has to be measured against his upside and against the downsides of where the QB room sits currently.

The Chargers could be very competitive this year, but they also can’t afford to take any losses that are at all avoidable. They are likely to be near the playoff bubble. And for teams in that zone, whether or not they are in the playoffs can come down to the backup QB. Right now, if Herbert were to go down for a few games, the Chargers would be in the hands of the unproven Easton Stick and Max Duggan.

And maybe those two will be solid backup NFL quarterbacks someday. But they haven’t shown it yet, and the 2023 Chargers aren’t a team in a position to let them prove themselves.

Every backup QB gets exposed eventually if the starter is out long-term. What you want from a backup is solid enough play to squeak out a win or two when the starter is out for a handful of games. Wentz has proven he’s good enough to do that. In fact, he might be especially suited to that.

Several times in his career, he’s come back from an injury or been reinstated after backing up another QB and put together a couple of solid games. It’s only after he starts several in a row that he then gets exposed. So if the Chargers face a short-term Herbert absence, Wentz’s peak play may provide minimal drop-off for the offense. And, of course, there would be no risk of a QB controversy because when Herbert’s healthy enough to play, there is no question about who the starter is.

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I think the Chargers can win the Super Bowl. I think they could even win it from the 7th seed. But to do that, they need to make sure they get into the playoffs in a difficult AFC. The quality of their backup QB might just be the difference-maker. And if they are serious about contending, they need an upgrade there. Of those free-agent QBs left, I think the peak of Wentz provides much more upside than someone like Teddy Bridgewater. The Chargers need to seriously consider bringing him into training camp.