The Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to bring in their former second-round pick Denzel Perryman on a one-year, $3 million deal. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was the first to break the story.
Perryman was an impact linebacker for the Houston Texans last season, registering 76 tackles, three passes defended, six tackles for loss, and two QB hits.
Denzel Perryman Career Summary
Perryman was drafted 48th overall by the Chargers in 2015 after a standout collegiate career at Miami. The veteran linebacker spent six seasons with the organization before moving on to the Raiders for two years. Then, the former Hurricane helped hold down the middle of Houston’s defense last season on the way to a divisional playoff appearance.
The 5’11, 240-pound bruiser has totaled 617 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14 passes defended, and five interceptions throughout his career.
Among Jesse Minter’s 4 pillars of his defense is block destruction.
Welcome back, Denzel Perryman. pic.twitter.com/DF506pmaIu
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) March 17, 2024
How Will the Los Angeles Chargers Utilize Him?
With 2023 starters Erick Kendricks and Kenneth Murray both departing this offseason, Perryman will be a major piece of the Los Angeles Charger defense this season. With defensive coordinator Jesse Minter posting a PFF run-stopping grade of at least 70 in six of the last seven seasons (Chargers Wire), expect the team to deploy Perryman primarily as an inside linebacker on running downs.
Los Angeles Chargers Outlook
The Jim Harbaugh era has gotten off to a wild start, as the Los Angeles Chargers recently traded superstar wideout Keenan Allen to the Bears. Star running back Austin Ekeler also left in free agency, and wide receiver Mike Williams was released. The organization will most likely utilize the draft to re-tool around quarterback Justin Herbert.
With Perryman, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa, the Chargers still sport solid inside and outside linebackers. Of course, Pro Bowl safety Derwin James will still be roaming the secondary as well. Expect Harbaugh to lean on the Los Angeles Chargers defensive talent in the wake of the mass exodus of skill-position players.
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Joshua is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. He started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper. When he’s not watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or writing a screenplay.
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