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Lamar Jackson a more realistic option than Baker Mayfield for Chargers

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Five days into the free-agency period, and predictably, the Los Angeles Chargers haven't made much of a splash.

However, the Chargers did fill the team’s top priority in my opinion, signing kicker Caleb Sturgis to a two-year deal. They also helped improve the run game by inking blocking tight end Virgil Green to a three-year deal.

Meanwhile, center Mike Pouncey said on his Instagram account that he’ll to visit with the Chargers on Sunday. Pouncey was initially reported to have a scheduled meeting with the Chargers on Saturday.

Released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this week, the addition of Pouncey would be a significant pickup if the Bolts can sign the three-time Pro Bowler.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chargers have $13.8 million in cap space, but that does not include the Sturgis deal. And they still have not made a move on bringing back safety Tre Boston or tight end Antonio Gates, while losing Kenny Wiggins and Jerry Attaochu in free agency.

So we’ll see what moves the Chargers make over the next seven days to improve the team.

That said, let’s take a look at two questions from this week’s mailbag.

As I mentioned earlier, it appears the Chargers solved their top need this offseason by signing Sturgis, but they have yet to add a playmaker on the defensive side of the football.

So for the top three rounds of the draft, the Chargers should be looking at filling position needs on the defensive side at linebacker, safety and tackle.

Certainly, the Chargers could consider a playmaker on offense like running back. However, the wildcard I think is the quarterback position. The Chargers haven’t drafted a quarterback since 2013 and want to find a player they can groom as an eventual replacement for Philip Rivers.

Lamar Jackson and Mason Rudolph could be considerations at the end of the first round or in the second round. Others who make sense as mid-round selections include Mike White, Luke Falk and Kyle Lauletta.

But in my opinion, the Chargers need to add two defensive playmakers in the top three rounds of this year’s draft -- guys that take the ball away, sack the quarterback and can become a physical presence in the run game.

Both offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen attended Baker Mayfield’s pro day, and met him the day before, so the Chargers are doing their homework.

However, I believe they would have to move up from No. 17 to get Mayfield, and I don’t think general manager Tom Telesco wants to spend the draft capital to climb the board in order to get a future signal-caller who will sit behind Rivers for the next two years.

So the more realistic option for the Chargers is Jackson at No. 17. The Louisville product could be used in a package of “Wildcat” plays in his first year while learning the intricacies of the quarterback position from Rivers and adding another dimension to the offense.