The Chargers have agreed to a new four-year contract with left tackle Jared Gaither.
The 6-foot-9inches 340 pound left tackle said he’s happy to hold on to his Chargers jersey.
“I was ecstatic,” Gaither said in a statement. “It’s definitely been a blessed day to be able to get that done and just get that out of the way. It allows me to focus on football strictly and solely and get the job done.”
The Chargers also unveiled their newest offense weapon Wednesday less than 24 hours after signing wide receiver Robert Meachem to a 4-year contract.
The former New Orleans Saints wide receiver fills the void left by the departure of Vincent Jackson who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tuesday afternoon.
The only question is will he be able to fully replace Vincent Jackson, who was the Chargers most reliable receiving option in the 2011 season, and at 6-foot-5-inches a big end zone target.
Meachem, 6-foot-2-inches, 210 pounds, was chosen by the Saints in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft and has been a key contributor to one of the most productive offenses in the NFL. In 2011, the 27-year-old Meachem averaged 15.5 yards on 40 receptions for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He has caught 23 touchdowns passes and averaged 16.1 yards per catch in five NFL seasons.
Meachem’s potential is intriguing given the fact he was part of a system in New Orleans with many offensive weapons. He will likely see more snaps with the Chargers in the 2012 season than he ever did with the Saints.
The Chargers have now solidified the team’s offensive line and agreed with three key players within the first 24 hours of NFL free agency. Tuesday morning, center Nick Hardwick agreed to a three-year contract.
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