Tag: Chargers roster

Where does the Chargers’ roster rank in NFL right now?

ESPN doesn’t think the Chargers have as talented of a roster as many boast them for.

On paper, the Chargers are seen as having one of the most skilled rosters in the NFL. However, those over at ESPN don’t necessarily agree with the narrative.

Using Pro Football Focus’ advanced grades and statistics, ESPN ranked every roster in the league, and Los Angeles came in at No. 16.

Safety Derwin James and the secondary was highlighted as the team’s biggest strength, while the left side of the offensive line was pegged as the biggest weakness. The X-factor is quarterback Tyrod Taylor, as his play will have a huge impact on the Bolts’ results in 2020.

X factor for 2020: The expectations for Tyrod Taylor — the presumed starter at quarterback to begin the season — are understandably low. When we most recently saw him as a starter he was crashing and burning in Cleveland. Taylor did have several seasons of success under Chargers coach Anthony Lynn in Buffalo, though, and from 2015 through 2017, his PFF grade of 82.3 ranked ninth among qualifying quarterbacks. This roster is talented enough that the Chargers could have success if Taylor plays to that level again. The plug could also be pulled quickly if Los Angeles gets off to a rough start with Justin Herbert waiting in the wings.

Los Angeles lost a few notable players like Philip Rivers, Russell Okung, Melvin Gordon, Adrian Phillips and Derek Watt. But they gained a handful, most notably Chris Harris Jr., Bryan Bulaga, Linval Joseph, Trai Turner and a draft class led by Justin Herbert and Kenneth Murray.

While some may disagree with where Los Angeles ranks, it hasn’t been the level of talent as the reason why the team has produced a mixed bag of results the past few seasons. It’s been the injury bug that they can’t shake off and some coaching mishaps.

L.A. is capable of making some noise this upcoming season, especially with the players that are returning and the additions they made. But when it comes to on-field performance, there are four factors that will ultimately make or break the Chargers in 2020.

3 best bargain contracts for Chargers in 2020

General manager Tom Telesco has done a fine job at acquiring players on great deals.

The Chargers present one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. A handful of those players were obtained by general manager Tom Telesco on great deals, too.

With that being said, here is a look at three of the best bargain contracts that Los Angeles has on the roster for the upcoming season:

OT Bryan Bulaga

Average salary: $4,833,333

In need of solid play along the offensive line, the Chargers were able to land one of the best players at the right tackle position for a heck of a deal. Bulaga was signed to a three-year deal worth $30 million. There are 37 tackles in the league that will make more than him this upcoming season, some of which are backups. The 10-year veteran should accelerate the transition process for new offensive line coach James Campen who coached him during their shared time with the Packers. But most importantly, protect Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert and aide in paving the way for the members of the backfield.

S Derwin James

Average salary: $3,378,806

It only took a season for James to make his mark as one of the league’s best safeties. His 105 tackles (75 solo), six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his rookie campaign hardly showed how phenomenal he was, as the do-it-all defender helped take the defense to another level. Had he not been hurt in Year 2, the former Florida State product would have been a prime candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors. There are 37 safeties who are set to make more than James during the 2020 season. If James cranks it up another notch this season, a contract extension could be in discussion.

CB Desmond King

Average salary: $2,202,998

The Chargers boast a strong secondary, but one player who hasn’t gotten as much recognition as he should is King. He has been tabbed as Second-Team All-Pro (2018), snubbed from a couple of Pro Bowls and has the second-highest three-year Pro Football Focus grade on defense from the 2017 NFL Draft (90.7). There 62 cornerbacks set to make more than the former Iowa product this upcoming season. Slated to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, it would be difficult to see a key defensive back leave, but the signing of Chris Harris Jr. might leave him out of a job with the team after 2020.

Chargers sign OL Ryan Groy

The Los Angeles Chargers signed a familiar face on Wednesday.

The Chargers signed offensive guard Ryan Groy to the 90-man roster on Wednesday.

Groy appeared in nine games for Los Angeles last season after signing with the team on Oct. 9. He played 36 offensive snaps and 37 on special teams.

Groy, the former Wisconsin product was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2014. Groy played in 16 games in 2016 and 2017 and appeared in 15 contests in 2018, all for the Bills. He also spent time with the Patriots, Buccaneers and Saints.

Groy enters camp looking to earn a spot on the roster once again to serve as depth on the interior part of the offensive line and play on special teams.

Gregg Rosenthal predicts Chargers’ 2020 starters

NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal makes his starting lineup predictions for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have boasted a talented roster for years now. The results may have not reflected from that, but the issues arise from injuries and in-game woes that haunted them.

Los Angeles has shown that they can compete with the league’s best, and they’re hopeful that they can make a postseason run, like they managed to do two years.

After a slew of acquisitions this offseason, L.A. is once again equipped with talent from top to bottom. But how will the starting lineup shake up in order to get the best players on the field?

NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal recently took a crack at projecting the Chargers’ starters for the upcoming season.

Here is a look:

Notes

  • By no surprise, Tyrod Taylor is listed as the starting quarterback. Barring any injury, I expect Taylor to be the Week 1 starter. For how long remains to be seen. If he gets hurt or the team isn’t having any success with him under center, then that’s when we can expect rookie Justin Herbert to take over.
  • Andre Patton is listed as WR3. While Patton will be among the competitors for the job, I expect either rookie Joe Reed or K.J. Hill to earn it when all is said and done.
  • In Rosenthal’s eyes, Sam Tevi wins the starting left tackle job. Many are expecting this to be Trey Pipkins’ role, including myself. However, the team could favor Tevi’s experience in the starting position.
  • I would be surprised if Kenneth Murray didn’t open up as the starting Will linebacker and Drue Tranquill didn’t start as the Mike linebacker.
  • The reason for their not being a third linebacker listed is because given the amount of nickel and dime packages the Chargers go in, that would normally be Adrian Phillips’ role. But not that he is no longer on the team, Desmond King is the frontrunner.
  • Rayshawn Jenkins is listed as the starting free safety. If and when the Chargers go into their two-deep looks, Nasir Adderley will be on the field at the same time.

Chargers’ updated depth chart after Round 1 of 2020 NFL Draft

How does the Los Angeles Chargers’ depth chart after their first two picks of the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Chargers added quarterback Justin Herbert and linebacker Kenneth Murray into the mix after selecting them with their first-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the selection of Herbert, Los Angeles sees this as an opportunity to let him sit for a year behind Tyrod Taylor to develop his game and fix any deficiencies he has before taking the reins.

With the selection of Murray, he will likely see significant playing time in his rookie season at both Mike and Will linebacker, rotating with Denzel Perryman, Drue Tranquill and Nick Vigil.

Here’s a look at the Chargers’ updated depth chart after the selections of Herbert and Murray.

Note: We will update this after Day 3 of the draft and when undrafted free agents are signed.

Offense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
QB Tyrod Taylor Justin Herbert Easton Stick
RB Austin Ekeler Justin Jackson
FB
WR Keenan Allen Darius Jennings
WR Mike Williams Jason Moore
WR Andre Patton Jalen Guyton
TE Hunter Henry Virgil Green Donald Parham
LT Trey Pipkins Storm Norton
LG Dan Feeney Forrest Lamp
C Mike Pouncey Scott Quessenberry
RG Trai Turner
RT Bryan Bulaga Sam Tevi Trent Scott

Defense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
LDE Joey Bosa Isaac Rochell
NT Linval Joseph PJ Johnson
DT Justin Jones Jerry Tillery Cortez Broughton
RDE Melvin Ingram Uchenna Nwosu
SAM Kyzir White Malik Jefferson Emeke Egbule
MIKE Denzel Perryman Kenneth Murray
WILL Drue Tranquill Nick Vigil
CB Casey Hayward Brandon Facyson
CB Michael Davis Quenton Meeks
SLOT Chris Harris Jr. Desmond King
FS Rayshawn Jenkins Nasir Adderley
SS Derwin James Roderic Teamer

Special Teams

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
PK Michael Badgley
P Ty Long
PR Desmond King
KR Desmond King Austin Ekeler
LS Cole Mazza

Chargers 53-man roster projection after first wave of free agency

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez predicts the Los Angeles Chargers roster for the 2020 regular season after the first wave of free agency.

The first wave of free agency has come to an end, and the Chargers were successful in addressing a few positions of need.

Many have been wondering how the moves made in free agency impacts the roster, so I’ve decided to do a way-too-early 53-man roster projection.

To make it as accurate as possible, I included the positions that I believe Los Angeles will address in the upcoming draft to fill the holes on the depth.

With that being said, here’s my first crack at it:

Offense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
QB Tyrod Taylor Draft Pick Easton Stick
RB Austin Ekeler Justin Jackson Draft Pick
FB UDFA
WR Keenan Allen Andre Patton
WR Mike Williams Jason Moore
WR Draft Pick
TE Hunter Henry Virgil Green Donald Parham
LT Trey Pipkins Draft Pick
LG Dan Feeney Forrest Lamp
C Mike Pouncey Scott Quessenberry
RG Trai Turner Draft Pick
RT Bryan Bulaga Sam Tevi

Defense

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
LDE Joey Bosa Isaac Rochell
NT Linval Joseph Draft Pick
DT Justin Jones Jerry Tillery Cortez Broughton
RDE Melvin Ingram Uchenna Nwosu
SAM Kyzir White Malik Jefferson Emeke Egbule
MIKE Denzel Perryman Nick Vigil
WILL Drue Tranquill Draft Pick
CB Casey Hayward Brandon Facyson
CB Michael Davis
SLOT Chris Harris Jr.
FS Rayshawn Jenkins Nasir Adderley
SS Derwin James Desmond King Roderic Teamer

Special Teams

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
PK Michael Badgley
P Ty Long
PR Desmond King
KR Desmond King Austin Ekeler
LS Cole Mazza

 

LB Denzel Perryman returns to starting lineup for Chargers

The move to bench arguably the best linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers is a bit puzzling.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn announced that linebacker Denzel Perryman will start at middle linebacker this weekend against the Vikings.

Perryman missed the Week 14 matchup against the Jaguars after he and safety Roderic Teamer were sent home after missing a morning meeting prior to the game.

While Perryman missed out on the action, rookie standout Drue Tranquill got the start, where he led the team in tackles with eight.

“He’s been our starting MIKE all year. Last week we had a disagreement, so he went home. He understands, and now he’s back,” Lynn said.

The decision to start Perryman and resort Tranquill back to the bench isn’t surprising, but it’s a bit of a head-scratcher.

The fourth-round selection has arguably been the best linebacker this season, where he’s been a force against the run and has been the most superior in coverage.

There’s still a chance that we could see Tranquill on the field more than advertised. But at the moment, we can anticipate Perryman getting the majority of the snaps, while Tranquill serves as a sub-package linebacker.

Other notable updates:

  • Lynn said he will make a decision on whether defensive tackle Jerry Tillery will be active for Sunday later this week. Tillery was not active in Week 14 in favor of Sylvester Williams.
  • With his suspension over, Michael Davis will retake his starting job at corner. But Lynn said Brandon Facyson will still get time because of how well he’s played, particularly against the run.

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