It’s a tale as old as time. An aged veteran is on the edge of being replaced in the workplace because their way of doing things just doesn’t comply with the industry’s standard anymore. Demands change, and with it, the tactics to meet them.
At 38 years old, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is the third oldest quarterback who started in week 11. The two quarterbacks older than him? Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Brady and Brees have proven that age does not immediately determine when one’s career should be over in the NFL. They’re both leading super bowl contending teams while in their 40’s, for pete’s sake.
Rivers, however, has proven time and again this season why his time in the league is a lot closer to its end.
Rivers Out?
His Monday night performance against the Kansas City Chiefs was the tipping point. Rivers threw four interceptions to a Chiefs defense who had only caught six through the first ten games. His final interception was thrown with less than 20 seconds remaining as the Chargers had a very real chance to force overtime. The entire game epitomized the Chargers’ season.
Rivers is another one of those quarterbacks throughout the history of the league whose career ignites various discussions among fans. His hall-of-fame worthiness is questionable to some, while others argue he is already an all-time great of the game. With five playoff wins to his name, as well as an AFC Championship game appearance, there’s no doubt he’s left an indelible mark in Chargers and NFL history.
That being said, it’s time for the LA Chargers to transition into a new era.
Rivers has five games left in the final year of his 4-year, $83.25 million contract. The Chargers are out of contention this season. Rivers has already surpassed his interception totals from 2017 and 2018. This means a long term extension is out of the question. If the Chargers go about this transition efficiently, they could begin their next era without skipping a beat.
Let’s not forget, this Chargers team went 12-4 just last season. If it wasn’t for a historic season from Patrick Mahomes, they would’ve won their division. This is a defense with one of the best edge rushing combinations in the league in pro bowlers Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, as well as possibly the deepest defensive back group in the entire NFL. On offense, they have one of the most underrated dual-threat running backs in Melvin Gordon with Austin Ekeler as a perfect compliment. Not to mention, two deep threat wide receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
It’s a roster that doesn’t surprise fans when they go 12-4, but certainly does so when they start a season 4-7.
Rivers is not to shoulder all of the blame, just a big chunk of it. It’s time for L.A. to move off of him, and the solution begins and ends in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Tua In?
‘Tank for Tua’ is a phrase that has become popular throughout all forms of media since the tail end of the 2018-19 football season. Having the best touchdown to interception ratio in the nation, Tua Tagovailoa was the most efficient passer in college football. He also developed a cause for concern due to his injuries. Despite the disappointing finish to the season, Tagovailoa was the frontrunner for odds to win the Heisman trophy in the 2019-20 season.
Though he has mostly been overshadowed by the emergence of LSU’s Joe Burrow this season, Tagovailoa has not disappointed statistically. It was seemingly a back-and-forth fight between the two SEC quarterbacks for the number one draft pick in April until Tagovailoa went down for the season with a dislocated hip. Having problems with his ankle in the past, injuries have been a major cause for concern for scouts around the NFL. The dislocated hip suffered against Mississippi State last Saturday will inevitably lose Tagovailoa a few draft spots.
The Chargers currently sit at the 11th overall pick in the draft. There are potentially four teams currently ahead of them that might need to draft a quarterback (Cincinnati, Miami, Tampa Bay and Denver). There are names like Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jacob Eason, Jalen Hurts and Jake Fromm being thrown around. Who knows what could happen with Tagovailoa. With all of his talent and injury problems, drafting him could be a wild card move. Of all teams in the top 11 of the draft so far, the Chargers have the most capability to move up. With the aforementioned spectacular roster, why not trade a minor asset along with the current first round pick to move up into the top six?
No football fan wants to see Tagovailoa get beat up behind Cincinnati’s or Miami’s offensive line. That’s exactly what would happen. The Chargers are a seemingly perfect fit for the exciting play of the Crimson Tide quarterback.
The Baltimore Ravens didn’t just suddenly become a super bowl contender with the lone addition of Lamar Jackson. No, that Ravens team was builtfor Jackson, and look how that’s paying out eleven weeks into the season.
Who wouldn’t want to watch Tagovailoa and that loaded Chargers roster take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs twice a year? Or Jon Gruden and the Raiders twice a year?
Chargers, do football fans everywhere a solid, and do whatever it takes to draft Tua Tagovailoa this spring.
