Chargers LB Kyzir White playing his way into contract extension

There were hardly any positives from the Ravens’ beatdown on the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

But amid Los Angeles’ ugly performance, I could not help but notice one of the very few bright spots; linebacker Kyzir White.

With Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill, White was the man in the middle of the defense.

On the first defensive possession, White raised my eyebrows when he was utilized as a blitzer. He avoided a blocker and looked like he was shot out of a cannon to close in on quarterback Lamar Jackson and force an incompletion.

In between his handful of tackles, White picked off Jackson on a ball thrown directly to him right before the half.

That wasn’t the only one he got his hands on, however.

Minutes before the final whistle blew, White nabbed another interception on a dropped pass by wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

White finished the game with eight tackles, two interceptions, a tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.

His two picks made him the first Chargers linebacker to have multiple interceptions in a game since Week 14 of the 2008 season.

The Chargers have always had a talented player in White but rarely got to see his true colors.

Whether it was due to injuries that hampered him in the early years of his career or playing in a limited role in Gus Bradley’s defense, White was always lost in the shuffle.

Now in Brandon Staley’s system, which perfectly caters to his skill set, White has been nothing less than dominant. With his combination of play speed, burst, and instincts to quickly react, White has been impactful in coverage and against the run.

White has 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two interceptions, and a sack through six games.

Right now, White is currently making $2,183,000 on a contract that is about to expire. He is due for a raise and the Chargers should make sure that they’re the ones to give it to him.

While Los Angeles has other notable soon-to-be free agents, like Mike Williams, Linval Joseph, Uchenna Nwosu, Kyler Fackrell, and Oday Aboushi, White should be atop the priority list.

White has proven that he provides availability, stability, and play-making ability at a vital position. He has earned every penny, and re-signing him would go a long way to defensive continuity and success.

As I’ve always said, play your playmakers.