The Los Angeles Chargers are cleaning house a little earlier than all of the other non-contenders in the league. After firing head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, the team has embraced the rebuild and started parting ways with older veterans who aren’t part of the future. On Friday afternoon, the team released starting defensive lineman and team captain Sebastian Joseph-Day in a surprise move that nobody saw coming. However, the Chargers decided that Joseph-Day is not a part of their long-term future, and releasing him now allows him to sign with a true contender, or get claimed by a team that truly values him.
Sebastian Joseph-Day is no superstar, but he is a solid player who can see the field on all three downs. According to Pro Football Focus, Joseph-Day’s 59.7 PFF grade is the 66th-best mark in the league out of 130 eligible interior defenders. Football is a game of inches, and while Joseph-Day won’t singlehandedly win any games, he could be the guy who creates a crucial third-down stop in a playoff matchup. Additionally, his status as a team captain means that he’s a strong locker room presence and could be a good leader for a team with young talent along the defensive line. It’s also worth noting that Joseph-Day is currently under contract for the 2024 season. If he passes through waivers, he can negotiate a completely new contract for himself. However, if claimed, he will play for his new team on his existing contract.
Top 5 Team Fits For Sebastian Joseph-Day
Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Jones is still a superstar, but the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs interior defenders leave something to be desired. Sebastian Joseph-Day could welcome a new home with his former division rivals, especially since Kansas City is once again in the thick of the playoff race. With the offense not looking quite as dominant as in seasons past, this team will need their defense to step up if they want to be the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots. Every single player counts when going for a Super Bowl, and Joseph-Day is an upgrade on Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Nnadi.
Buffalo Bills
At 8-6, the Buffalo Bills are well on their way to climbing back into the postseason. At his best, Josh Allen is the most dangerous quarterback in football, but he can’t do it all himself. Buffalo’s defense is a solid unit, but they don’t have all that much talent along the interior of the defensive line. Fortunately, there is strength in numbers, and Sebastian Joseph-Day could provide some much-needed depth for this unit. Seeing as Buffalo probably won’t win the division, they’ll need all the hard-nosed, physical players they can get for what could be a four-game stretch of postseason games on the road.
Jacksonville Jaguars
If the Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t careful, they could lose control of the AFC South. Trevor Lawrence isn’t playing up to his usual level after suffering an ankle injury earlier in the season, which means that the defense is going to need to pick up the slack. Josh Allen is a great edge rusher, but this team could use some more security along the middle of their defensive line. Sebastian Joseph-Day is a perfect choice for the job and should help secure Jacksonville’s second consecutive division title.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks believe that they can compete for the Super Bowl, or else they wouldn’t have given up a second-round pick for Leonard Williams. The former Giant has certainly helped Seattle’s defensive line, but he can’t do it all alone. Sebastian Joseph-Day would be a solid complementary piece and counter to Williams. Just like that, Seattle would have one of the better interior defensive lines in the league, which is something you need when you share a division with Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Shanahan.
New Orleans Saints
Let’s be real: the New Orleans Saints are not contenders. Even if they do find a way to win the NFC South, they’ll promptly lose in the first round of the playoffs. However, Sebastian Joseph-Day would still be a good fit here. First-round pick Bryan Bresee has not played up to expectation, currently boasting the 116th-best PFF grade out of 130 eligible players. In the short term, Joseph-Day can provide adequate play in the middle of the defense and help shore up that glaring weakness. However, in the long term, the former Chargers captain can help bring out the best in Bresee. Remember, Joseph-Day is under contract for the 2024 season, so New Orleans could claim him with eyes on the 2024 season.4
Main Photo: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
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