Raiders may look at Ingram, other ex-Chargers

Gus Bradley, the new D-coordinator, had 4-year tenure with the Chargers

Don’t discount the Gus Bradley factor when the free agency negotiating period begins Monday.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock will lean heavily on the new defensive coordinator for recommendations as to who best fits his defensive system.

And the players Bradley knows best are from the Los Angeles Chargers, where he ran the defense for the past four years.

The most notable player is Melvin Ingram, who teams are looking at as a pass rusher but could be found just about anywhere under Bradley.

Before one of the Raiders’ games in 2019 against the Chargers, Gruden marveled at the ways Ingram was utilized in Bradley’s system.

“Someone needs to do a statistical chart on this guy — how many miles he runs per game,” Gruden said. “He’s the middle linebacker on goal-line defense, he’s a rover on third down, he walks around, I don’t know where the hell he is. He’s going to play over the guard, over the edge. He’s sideline to sideline. He runs like a linebacker, and he has defensive end-type size.”

Ingram, 6-foot-2, 247 pounds, was a first-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2012. He was limited to seven games last season before a knee injury ended his season with no sacks, so the medical evaluation will be hugely important.

From 2017 through 2019, Ingram had 24 1/2 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. He was a Pro Bowl player all three years.

Given that Ingram will turn 32 before the season starts and last year’s injury, he’s not likely to receive anywhere near the fouryear, $64 million deal he just completed or the $14 million in salary he made in 2020.

But Ingram would be an appealing option with a salary in the $8 to $10 million range plus some bonus money and if a reasonable facsimile of what he was two years ago would instantly be their best pass rusher.

A look at some other Chargers scheduled for unrestricted free agency who Bradley might be interested in bringing aboard:

CB CASEY HAYWARD >> Released Saturday because he wasn’t a scheme fit, Hayward was a Pro Bowl performer in 2016-17 and a veteran of 129 games and 95 starts. Was due a $9.7 million salary at age 32. Quarterbacks completed less than 50 percent of their passes against his coverage but Heyward gave up five touchdowns.

CB MICHAEL DAVIS >> An angular (6-foot-2) cornerback who played in 16 games with 14 starts for the Chargers in 2020. Davis had three interceptions, including one returned for 78 yards. According to profootballreference.com figures, quarterbacks had a 79.2 rating

while targeting Davis and threw three touchdown passes.

S RAYSHAWN JENKINS >> The Chargers’ secondleading tackler in 2020 with 84 stops to go along with two interceptions and four passes defensed. Jenkins, 27, is more of a strong safety type at 220 pounds and wouldn’t necessarily be a fit with Johnathan Abram, who does some of his bet work in the box.

LB DENZEL PERRYMAN >> A 5-foot-11, 240-pound inside linebacker who has yet to play a 16 game season in six seasons. Perryman played in 13 games with six starts last season and was slowed by a back injury. Could assume a run-stuffer role similar to that of Raekwon McMillan a year ago.

LB NICK VIGIL >> Played in 15 games with two starts, at his best against the run but struggles in pass coverage. Played on a one-year deal with Chargers after spending two seasons with Cincinnati. Played 30 percent of Chargers defensive snaps but 47 percent on special teams.

NT DAMION SQUARE: >> At 6-foot-2, 293 pounds, Square mostly played over center and was in on 24 percent of the Chargers defensive snaps. He played in 16 games with one start and has 6 1/2 sacks in 91 career games.

S JAHEEL ADDAI >> Started 32 games under Bradley with the Chargers in 2017 and 2018 but only three starts in the past two years with Houston and the Chargers, where he returned in 2020. Had hamstring issue and played in 11 games last season. Like Jenkins, is more of an inthe-box safety than a centerfielder who would pair with Abram.

S JAYLEN WATKINS: >> Brought back to Chargers after being cut by Houston last season. A converted corner who stepped in and played the last three games and can play on special teams. Watkins has played in 53 career games with nine starts.

LB MALIK JEFFERSON >> A 6-foot-2, 241-pound linebacker, Jefferson played in 13 games almost exclusively on special teams. A former third-round pick by Cincinnati, Jefferson was released Friday. He has played in 34 games with the Bengals, Browns and Chargers with no starts.

DT LINVAL JOSEPH >> Joseph is still on the Chargers roster although there have been unconfirmed reporters he may need to accept a pay cut to stick around. He’s due a $2 million roster bonus two days after the free agent signing period begins. At 6-foot-4, 329 pounds, Joseph played 70 percent of the Chargers snaps at age 32.