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The Los Angeles Chargers made a few roster moves on Friday.
The Chargers made a few roster moves on Friday.
Los Angeles signed defensive lineman Willie Yarbary, linebacker Damon Lloyd, tight end Matt Seybert and wide receiver Michael Bandy, the team announced.
All four players signed formerly played in The Spring League, which is a developmental league to showcase for professional talent.
Yarbary, Seybert and Bandy played for the Conquerors, while Lloyd was with the Blues.
The roster currently sits at 86 players.
The Los Angeles Chargers may have themselves a gem in linebacker Nick Niemann.
The Chargers drafted linebacker Nick Niemann in the fifth-round with the intentions of him aiding a special teams unit that finished last in the league last season.
While the majority of his money will be made in that department in his first season, Niemann profiles as a player that can make an impact on the defensive side of the ball.
Niemann comes from a school that has a knack for producing quality NFL linebackers, with the likes of Ben Niemann (Nick’s older brother), Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens, Josey Jewell.
Niemann had a solid career at Iowa. Even though he didn’t start until his last season, he was a key piece as an every-down weak-side linebacker, in which he posted 77 tackles (team high) and helped the team finish as a top-10 national defense in scoring and yardage.
Niemann, however, really turned heads at the Hawkeye’s Pro Day, where he posted a 40 time of 4.45, a shuttle time of 4.14, a 10-yard split in 1.48 seconds, which would have tied Jonathan Taylor for the fastest at the 2020 combine and a 6.67 second three-cone drill.
The testing numbers are eye-popping, but Niemann’s tape shows a player with the core traits that can contribute at the position at this level.
Niemann’s calling card is his tackling ability, as he ranked fourth in the Big 10 in tackles per game last season, averaging 9.6 hits per game.
Niemann is good interior run defender, showing very good mental processing to recognize blocking schemes quickly, which allows him to maximize his quickness to attack gaps, displaying physical toughness on contact to secure tackles in his gap.
Against outside runs, he shows the speed and range to be able to cover the field sideline-to-sideline. In addition, his processing ability helps him take good angles to intersect the ball carrier, helping raise his pursuit ability.
While Niemann does a great job of evading blockers in space and makes for a difficult second-level target for offensive linemen, he does lack technique and strength which will force him to struggle to match at the point of attack.
In today’s NFL, playing linebacker is more than just run defense, however.
Even though Niemann wasn’t tasked with a lot of responsibilities in coverage compared to other linebackers, he did enough sufficiently in that department to fare well in this league.
In man coverage, he has the speed to hang in space with slot receivers, and he should have no issue doing the same with athletic running backs and tight ends in the NFL.
In zone coverage, he shows comfort and route recognition skills across the middle as well as in the flats. When he sees the ball in the air, he has impressive movement skills to close the distance.
Finally, Niemann brings quickness and sufficient effort as a blitzer.
The bottom line is that Niemann is a talented linebacker who looks to fit the mold of the NFL’s new-age linebackers. He has the ability to make stops inside and outside the tackles and the coverage instincts and athleticism to stay on the field on third down.
Drue Tranquill, Kenneth Murray and Kyzir White stand above him on the depth chart at the moment, but if an injury were to occur, Niemann is the ideal guy that can be counted on to start in the upcoming season.
By Year 2 or 3, Niemann could be in a position where he is fighting for a starting job for the Chargers, given the fact that White will be a free agent at the end of the season and Tranquill will be at the end of the 2022 season.
With his skillset and developmental potential, Los Angeles might have a good one on their hands for years to come.
Who are Chargers fans looking forward to watching the most in 2021? Find out.
The Chargers are loaded with talented, which is why I wanted to get an idea of which members of the team fans are most excited to see this year as they look to make a playoff run under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.
With that being said, I went to our official Twitter and Facebook accounts to ask fans who they’re looking forward to the most. Below is a look at what the majority of the bunch said.
Fans were eager to see James in his third season, but that was put a halt after he sustained a severe knee injury right before the end of training camp. The injury wiped out his entire 2020 season, which was supposed to be his bounce back campaign after being limited to five games the year before. Ensuring James is on the field in 2021 will be critical. James gives the Chargers a rare defender who can cover wide receivers, the best tight ends in the NFL, stop running backs at the line of scrimmage and put pressure on quarterbacks, all of which are key elements to determining their success rate.
After a year slowed by an injury and a sophomore slump, Adderley is in prime position to turn things around in Year 3, as he will be playing under head coach Brandon Staley, who has had plenty of success at maximizing his defensive player’s potential. The thought is that the team will be able to make full use of Adderley by utilizing his versatility instead of playing the free safety position, where he can be flexed in the slot (Star) and fill a sub-package safety-linebacker hybrid role (Money) due to his instincts, short area quickness and ball skills. If James stays injury-free and things click for Adderley, they could be one of the league’s best safety duos.
Tranquill made an impact in his rookie season, finishing as the Chargers’ second-leading tackler with 75 total tackles, along with being tied for the most special teams tackles by any rookie (11). All eyes were on him heading into Year 2, but he only got to see the field not even for a full quarter after suffering an ankle injury in the season opener that knocked him out for the entirety of 2020. Looking ahead, Tranquill’s intelligence, communication, coverage skills and playmaking abilities are highly anticipated in Staley’s defense next to the ascending LB Kenneth Murray.
It’s no surprise that fans are excited to see the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Herbert, who wasn’t expected to play as early as he did, put together one of the best rookie campaigns in league history, finishing with 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns, which resulted in shattered records. Heading into 2021, Herbert could be in for an even bigger season, given the fact that he will have all key skill players from last year returning and the additions of Jared Cook and Josh Palmer. Most importantly, Herbert will have plenty of time to get the ball to those guys with a competent offensive line that features All-Pro center Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi and first-round pick Rashawn Slater. There are questions regarding Herbert and adapting to the new offense enforced by Joe Lombardi, but his high football IQ should allow him to overcome any challenges.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists the players who aren’t getting the recognition that they deserve.
I asked fans on our Facebook and Twitter pages who they believe are the most under-appreciated players on the Chargers. For the most part, the answers were mutual.
With that being said, here are the five most under-appreciated members of Los Angeles heading into the 2021 season:
Signed last offseason, Parham took advantage of his limited opportunities, as well as the season-ending injury to Virgil Green, where he recorded 10 catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 20 targets in 2020.
Heading into this season, even with the additions of Jared Cook and rookie Tre’ McKitty, Parham could see an uptick in production from last season due to offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s philosophy, where he will be an asset up the seam and a mismatch in the red zone.
During the final season that Lombardi called plays for the Lions, former Lions QB Matthew Stafford targeted the tight end on nearly 25 percent of his passes. In addition, Saints’ Drew Brees relied heavily on his tight ends.
Despite coming into his own last season, Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr. still got the majority of the spotlight at the position. It was until injuries kept Hayward and Harris Jr. off the field when Davis finally started to get the recognition he deserved.
Davis slowed some of the league’s top receivers and made a few big plays in critical situations. He was on the field for 92% of the team’s defensive snaps, logging 64 tackles, 14 passes defensed and three interceptions, all of which were personal bests.
Heading into the upcoming season, Davis’ versatility in coverage, length and athleticism make him an excellent fit for Brandon Staley’s scheme. Yet to make a Pro Bowl appearance, there’s a chance that could change very soon for the 26-year old.
For the past three seasons, Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram were the focus of attention at the position. All the meanwhile, Nwosu was making impactful plays against the pass and run, yet he was never rewarded for his hard work.
With his defensive snaps being under 40% in 45 career games, Nwosu has still managed to total 10 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures and 44 hurries.
Now heading into his fourth season, Nwosu is in a position to breakout in a big way.
Not only has he flashed enough to be an effective player, but the sky is limit knowing what Staley could do to Nwosu’s game when factoring in what he was able to do with Leonard Floyd with the Rams last season.
Floyd is coming off his most productive year as a pro, totaling career-highs in sacks (12.5), tackles (55) and quarterback hits (19), as well as a career-best 52 total pressures.
If everything clicks, Nwosu could see career-highs in various categories, which could lead to a contract extension since he will be a free agent at the end of the season.
“I think Chenna can be a high-level player in this league. We love how he plays,” general manager Tom Telesco said.
Coming into the 2020 season, there was the question of who would be the receivers that would establish themselves as reliable pass-catching options behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
One of those players was Johnson, who showed his true potential when injuries to Allen and Williams led to extended playing time.
In 12 games, Johnson amassed 20 receptions for 398 yards (19.9 yards per reception) and three touchdowns, with zero drops. Four of his first five receptions in the NFL went for 50 yards or more.
In 2021, Johnson has the opportunity to become one of quarterback Justin Herbert’s go-to targets because of how well he does in the intermediate and deep parts of the field, and he should reap the rewards due to his speed and hands.
Ekeler has proven himself as one of the league’s best do-it-all running backs, but he still isn’t talked about as much compared to others at his position.
Asserting himself as a key piece in the offense with his multi-dimensional skillset, Ekeler has totaled 1,901 yards on the ground and 2,079 receiving yards as well as 25 touchdowns in four seasons.
With a competent offensive line and an offensive coordinator in Lombardi, who has historically gotten his running backs involved in the passing game more than almost any other team, Ekeler could be in for a career season.
“I know that Ekeler has some of the skill sets that I’m used to seeing in New Orleans with whether it was Reggie (Bush) or Darren Sproles or AK (Alvin Kamara),” Lombardi said.
Despite being an impactful defender, Chargers cornerback Michael Davis still does not get enough national recognition.
Despite being one of the best defensive players for the Chargers last season, cornerback Michael Davis still didn’t get the national attention that he deserved.
His hard work did not go unnoticed by the team, however. For his efforts, Davis signed a multi-year contract extension in March.
Even though he now sits atop of the depth chart, Davis is still flying under the radar. That is why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox tabbed him as Los Angeles’ best-kept secret.
Though he has played for the Los Angeles Chargers for four seasons, cornerback Michael Davis probably isn’t recognized by non-Chargers fans. An undrafted free agent out of Brigham Young in 2017, Davis has quietly developed into a quality starter.
While Davis hasn’t been named to a Pro Bowl yet, another season like the one he had in 2020 will likely change that.
After originally signing with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Davis steadily developed into a quality starter, and 2020 marked his best as a professional.
As Casey Hayward and Chris Harris Jr. dealt with injuries throughout the course of the year, Davis slowed some of the league’s top receivers and made a few big plays in critical situations.
Davis was on the field for 92% of the team’s defensive snaps, logging 64 tackles, 14 passes defensed and three interceptions, all of which were personal bests.
Heading into the upcoming season, his versatility in coverage, length and athleticism make him a good fit for head coach Brandon Staley’s new defensive scheme.
Only 26 years of age, Davis’ best football is still ahead of him. He should and will likely finally get the national recognition.
Michael Davis INT sets up a Chargers field goal and the Chargers finally win a one possession game! pic.twitter.com/Ln4FjA9gEE
— Hunter Miller (@MillerHHunter) December 14, 2020
There are a few players from last season who might no longer be a part of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
The roster-building process is nearly complete for the Chargers, as players will soon hit the field in preparation for the 2021 regular season.
After the moves that the team made, specifically from the 2021 NFL draft, there are a few players that see their roster spot in early offseason jeopardy.
Here’s a look at those five:
The Los Angeles Chargers added another cornerback to the roster.
The Chargers have claimed cornerback Kemon Hall off waivers.
Hall was undrafted out of North Texas in 2019. He signed with Los Angeles and played with the team through the preseason before going on the practice squad early in the regular season.
After being released by L.A., Hall bounced around the league, having spent time with the Vikings, Saints and Cowboys.
Hall joins a deep cornerback room led by Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr., and rookie Asante Samuel, Jr.
He will be competing for a roster spot this summer with others, including Brandon Facyson, Donte Vaughn, John Brannon and Ryan Smith.
The Los Angeles Chargers have had a great amount of success on bringing in hidden gems that went undrafted.
The Chargers added nine new members throughout the course of the weekend in the 2021 NFL draft. Following the event itself, they notched an additional 10 undrafted free agents who will all be fighting for a spot.
Los Angeles has had a great amount of success on bringing in hidden gems that went undrafted, including safety Adrian Phillips, tight end Antonio Gates and running back Austin Ekeler.
With that, here are four that could see their names on the 53-man roster when the 2021 season rolls around.
Find out how Pro Football Focus feels about the Chargers roster heading into the 2021 NFL draft.
The 2021 NFL draft is just five days away.
With nine picks (at the moment), the Chargers roster will have a slight makeover under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.
But before that, Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash ranked Los Angeles’ roster, along with the other 31 teams in the league as they stand right now.
It’s worth noting the list was “heavily influenced by the two-year PFF WAR (wins above replacement) of the players, but also had some subjective projection involved for those younger, emerging talents.”
Treash ranked the Bolts’ roster at No. 25 but added that the team ranks 12th in draft capital.
The Chargers’ offensive line has undergone a complete makeover this offseason, and understandably so; the 2020 group was the second-lowest-graded of the last decade. New signees Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler, along with a healthy Bryan Bulaga, should move this group closer to average and help quarterback Justin Herbert avoid major regression in Year 2, as a lot of his rookie success came in unstable areas like pressured passing. The concerns really lie on the defensive side of the ball. Edge defender Joey Bosa and Derwin James are both clearly among the best at their respective positions when healthy, but things look rough outside of those two. The Chargers rank among the bottom five teams in the NFL when it comes to 2020 WAR on their current defense.
The ranking comes as a bit of a surprise, as I’m sure it will to many fans.
The Chargers saw some turnover to their roster, letting go of notable players like Hunter Henry, Denzel Perryman, Rayshawn Jenkins, Casey Hayward, Trai Turner, Melvin Ingram, among others.
However, in correspondence, the team realized the offensive line has been the biggest issue the past few seasons and made the point to upgrade the unit, signing All-Pro center Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi.
Offensively, Los Angeles will be led by rookie sensation Justin Herbert. With the line that’s in place and an eventual starting left tackle, and weapons around him; Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams and Jared Cook, he should be set up for sophomore success.
Defensively, Staley will have a solid group of pieces to work with, led by Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Michael Davis, Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Linval Joseph and Chris Harris Jr. Jerry Tillery, Uchenna Nwosu and Nasir Adderley are players primed to breakout.
If general manager Tom Telesco hits a home run in this year’s draft, you might be able to make the argument that L.A. has a top-10 roster heading into the 2021 campaign. If the group can stay healthy throughout the year, watch out.
As for the rest of the AFC West, the Chiefs sat near the top at No. 3. The Broncos were not far off from them at No. 6. The Raiders checked in at No. 28.
Breaking down the Los Angeles Chargers’ roster moves, cap space and positions of need.
We are two weeks into NFL free agency, and the Chargers’ roster under head coach Brandon Staley is taking shape.
Here’s a look at Los Angeles’ roster moves:
OL Corey Linsley
OL Matt Feiler
OL Oday Aboushi
TE Jared Cook
OLB Kyler Fackrell
QB Chase Daniel
CB Michael Davis
CB Brandon Facyson
TE Stephen Anderson
TE Hunter Henry (Patriots)
LB Denzel Perryman (Panthers)
QB Tyrod Taylor (Texans)
OL Dan Feeney (Jets)
OT Sam Tevi (Colts)
DL Isaac Rochell (Colts)
LB Nick Vigil (Vikings)
OL Cole Toner (Texans)
L.A. roughly has $25.7 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap. This does not reflect the signing of QB Chase Daniel and re-signings of TE Stephen Anderson and CB Brandon Facyson.
What are the team’s remaining needs?
If the Chargers wish to get the most out of quarterback Justin Herbert, they need to protect him at all costs. At the moment, Trey Pipkins is penciled in as the starter. Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick of 2019, has shown flashes but he’s still quite a bit away from being relied on in that role. Los Angeles also has Storm Norton on the roster, but he I believe he is nothing more than a swing option.
One of the biggest priorities for L.A. was re-signing Michael Davis, which they took care of. But even after making the move, the team still has a void to fill after releasing Casey Hayward. The Bolts still have Chris Harris, Jr. as the other starter and even though they re-signed Brandon Facyson, I don’t think he’s ready to step in as a permanent starter. Given how vital the position is in Brandon Staley’s system, they need more talent.
After the loss of Rayshawn Jenkins, there are only three safeties on the roster: Derwin James, Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman. The Chargers might be banking on Staley maximizing Adderley’s skillset in 2021 after a rough sophomore season, but given the fact that Staley likes to roll with three-safety looks, the team will be looking to add another one or two.
Los Angeles found their two probable starters in Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi. However, the depth behind them is practically nonexistent. For a team that has dealt with the injury bug up front, they could benefit from adding a couple to solidify the group for the upcoming season.
The Chargers have a solid foundation with Linval Joseph, Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery. While it’s not the most pressing need, Staley will look for guys that fit his mold, with that being explosive and versatile players with length. Cortez Broughton is a player that fits that shape, but look for them to upgrade.
