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.

[lawrence-related id=31637,31628,31612,31613]