FanPost

Why a trade for Shawne Merriman makes sense.

I think I heard on espn recently that the Chargers were thinking about trading Shawne Merriman.  Needless to say, he has thourougly dissapointed this year, coming back from injury.  It wasn't long ago, he was the best outside rusher in the league.  I know he has had some injury issues recently, but if he could be heck, maybe 80% of the player he was, I think we should trade for him.  Merriman has done absolutely nothing this season, but in 2006, he has 17 sacks in 12 games.  If my math is right, that's almost 23 sacks in 16 games. 

I know it would be risky, but our OLB's haven't exactly excited thus far.  Manny Lawson has one sack, and Parys Haralson has one sack.  Now I know we have been getting a good amount of sacks, and it has been spread out among everyone, but OLB's in the 3-4 are supposed to get sacks.

After the jump I will give reasons why we should trade for him.


1.)  We need OLB rush help.  Of course, he wouldn't play every down, he would be a situational player, unless he continues to suck as bad as he does in San Diego.

2.) He is owed 2.2 Million this year from his contract.  That isn't a lot of money for the amount of potential he has.  It's a pretty low risk/ high reward scenario.

3.) If he does suck, this is the last year of his contract, and we could just let him walk, but if he does show signs of his old selff, imagine having him and Bam Bam for 8-10 years.  That's a pretty good LB combination.

4.) We wouldn't need to draft one next year in the draft.  The draft is a crapshoot.  I would rather take my chances with a hurt Shawne Merriman, then with someone who has never proven anything in the NFL.

5.) We wouldn't need to get rid of much to get him.  I'm thinking like a mid-round pick, maybe like a 3 and 7.  I don't know, I'm just throwing out numbers.  Again, if he could give us half the production he had in 06, that's over 10 sacks a year. 

6.) He's only 25.  I have no doubts he can heal completely and be the dominant force he was.  If he was closer to 30, I wouldn't. but he is still fairly young.

It would be awesome to get a talent like Merriman, and don't think we will.  It's still fun to dream, right?

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