We’ve talked about the possibility of [intlink id=”139″ type=”category”]Nick Barnett[/intlink] being the odd man out at linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and one place he could potentially end up is in San Diego, where the Chargers are in a state of flux at the position.
The Packers are set on the inside with [intlink id=”492″ type=”category”]Desmond Bishop[/intlink] and [intlink id=”80″ type=”category”]A.J. Hawk[/intlink], both of whom signed new contracts with the team in the past year. Barnett is coming off his second season-ending injury in three years and has a salary north of $4 million, which would make him a very expensive backup.
San Diego, meanwhile, has three prospective free agents at inside linebacker — Stephen Cooper, Kevin Burnett and Brandon Siler. Burnett is a good bet to return, according to ESPN’s Bill Williamson and the team drafted Jonas Mouton in the second round, but may still be looking to add a veteran.
Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said he thinks a potential Barnett-Chargers’ pairing is intriguing.
“He wouldn’t be a bad fit at all,” Williamson said. “He’s a very solid football player. He’s experienced in the 3-4 on the outside. I still think he has plenty left in the tank. San Diego’s inside linebacker situation is in such a state of flux, it is hard to predict who he would be playing next to on the inside, but I see him more as a weakside inside linebacker that system.”
Barnett certainly still has value and the ability to start in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see if a trade market develops for him once the lockout ends.