Dwight Lowery to Chargers: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

The San Diego Chargers continue to beef up their defense as free agency opened Wednesday, as they announced they've signed former Indianapolis Colts free safety Dwight Lowery. 

Lowery's deal is for three years, per the team. He will likely fill the void of two-time All-Pro Eric Weddle, who isn't expected to return. The deal is for three years and $7.2 million, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

Lowery, an eight-year veteran, registered career highs with four interceptions and 16 starts last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He ranked third on the team with 83 tackles. 

The former fourth-round pick has also played for the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons. 

The Colts signed him to the veteran minimum at $870,000 in base salary last year, per Spotrac. The league’s 24th-ranked pass defense will now likely turn to Clayton Geathers as its starting free safety following his strong rookie campaign, as Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star noted:

The Chargers were arguably the busiest team in the league when free agency opened Wednesday. 

In addition to signing Lowery, they also added former Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Mebane, signed former Cleveland Browns receiver Travis Benjamin and brought back tight end Antonio Gates. 

They also have the No. 3 overall pick in the draft to pick up another key commodity. 

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller projects San Diego to take Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley with that pick, but Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey could be a dark horse. 

With Weddle seemingly gone, the Chargers put a premium on experience for his replacement. Lowery isn’t a blue-chip draft prospect like Ramsey, but he is coming off a career season and showed upside warranting a deal such as the one he signed Wednesday.