Proposed Chargers signing adds $13 million castoff as upgrade to linebackers room

The Los Angeles Chargers have had a decent but not great offseason. To be honest, we had hoped to see the team be more aggressive in pursuit of taking another step forward in 2025.

But there's still time to remedy that, with several intriguing players still on the open market. And, there is a new addition to that market after the New England Patriots made a cut recently.

That player is linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, a former fifth-round pick of the Pats in 2018. Bentley was a stalwart on defense for New England over seven seasons but is now looking for a new home.

In the wake of his release, the Chargers were tabbed as one of the possible landing spots for Bentley in an article written by Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports.

"Last season, the Los Angeles Chargers may have had one of the best pass defenses, but the same can’t be said about stopping the run," Palacios wrote. "The team’s defensive front will look dramatically different since losing Poona Ford in free agency and releasing Joey Bosa. Khalil Mack is coming back, but it may be his last season in the league. Bentley is the perfect replacement the Chargers should sign immediately to give them relief."

The Chargers currently have a trio of Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson and Denzel Perryman penciled in, but the jury is still very much out on Colson and Perryman is getting up there in age.

Adding Bentley would give the Chargers another starting-quality linebacker and some much-needed length and versatility in the linebackers room.

Over his seven-year career, Bentley has shown he can do a little bit of everything. He's strong against the run and in coverage, and he can even rush the passer a bit.

Bentley is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he played in just two games due to a torn pectoral muscle. Bentley is likely to command a "prove-it" deal, which means he'll come cheap on a one-year pact.

We'd estimate that Bentley will command around $5 million in a free-agent deal. Los Angeles is well-equipped to afford that, with the team sitting with $30.8 million in cap space.

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