Tag: Nasir Adderley

Patrick Mahomes gets bailed out of four interceptions vs. Chargers

Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s interception luck leader after three picks were overruled for various reasons against the Los Angeles Chargers.

When you look at interception totals for quarterbacks, they can be misleading in both directions. There are quarterbacks with great interception luck, and others who get no breaks at all.

Throughout most of his career, Patrick Mahomes has had exceptional interception luck. This was especially true in 2020.

Last season, Mahomes wasn’t quite as fortunate — per Football Outsiders, he had 10 dropped interceptions, and a drop in good fortune was one reason Mahomes wasn’t quite as efficient as he had been in previous years.

Against the Chargers on Thursday night, Mahomes’ interception luck didn’t just catch back up to him — it caught back up to him on two consecutive plays, and four plays overall.

Let’s start with the pick Mahomes threw with 13:38 left in the first half. It looked as if he threw a pick to safety Nasir Adderley, but cornerback Bryce Callahan was called for illegal contact, and the play was negated.

This was a bit of a specious call.

Then, with 9:52 left in the third quarter, Mahomes appeared to throw a deep pass to receiver Mecole Hardman that Hardman couldn’t hang onto, and the ball dropped into the hands of safety Derwin James on an acrobatic play. But offsetting penalties killed the play.

And then on the very next play, Mahomes threw a pick right to cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., but it was ruled that Samuel didn’t hold onto the ball.

And THEN, with 34 seconds left in the third quarter, Mahomes tried to hit tight end Jody Fortson in the end zone, and Samuel was all over it… until he just dropped the ball.

Has Samuel held onto the ball, it might have been a 99-yard pick-six…

…which is exactly what Justin Herbert of the Chargers threw to Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson on the very next drive.

Mahomes is a great quarterback, but if you add this kind of luck to the equation… what’s that they say about how it’s better to be lucky than good? It’s certainly better to be both! On the three drives that contained all four of these non-picks, the Chiefs scored all 17 of their points so far, and Watson’s pick-six put them ahead in the game for the first time.

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in season opener vs. Raiders

Here are the Chargers’ best and worst performers against the Raiders, per Pro Football Focus’ grades.

In the opening game of the 2022 regular season, the Chargers took care of business at home against the Raiders.

En route to victory, a handful of players helped guide the team along the way.

With that being said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus player grades.

Note: To be more accurate, this is based on players who played at least 35% of the snaps on offense (67) or defense (58).

Top 5 Offense

WR DeAndre Carter – 90.4

WR Keenan Allen — 82.1

QB Justin Herbert – 79.8

OT Rashawn Slater – 79.0

TE Gerald Everett – 73.5

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Khalil Mack — 87.0

EDGE Joey Bosa — 82.6

LB Drue Tranquill — 77.6

S Nasir Adderley — 76.4

DT Austin Johnson — 76.0

Bottom 5 Offense

WR Josh Palmer — 56.5

G Zion Johnson — 54.8

OT Trey Pipkins — 53.0

WR Mike Williams — 45.5

TE Tre’ McKitty — 29.7

Bottom 5 Defense

S Alohi Gilman — 54.0

DT Jerry Tillery — 50.9

CB Asante Samuel Jr. — 49.8

CB Michael Davis — 48.7

DT Sebastian Joseph-Day — 30.0

4 defensive keys to a Chargers victory over Raiders in Week 1

Here’s what the Chargers must do on the defensive side of the ball to defeat the Raiders.

We’re mere days away from the Chargers kicking off their 2022 season against the rival Las Vegas Raiders.

Starting lineups are beginning to crystallize, injury reports are finalizing, and football is back.

Here are some keys to the game on defense to ensure Los Angeles comes away 1-0:

Rattle Derek Carr

The stats match the eye test with Carr, revealing a quarterback who gets flustered when the rush begins to close in. Per Pro Football Focus, Carr’s turnover-worthy play percentage on all plays in 2021 was 3.2%, good for 13th in the league, along with Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, and Matt Ryan. But when the pressure starts to get home, Carr’s turnover-worthy play percentage jumps to 7%, the fifth highest in the league. Only Ben Roethlisberger, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tua Tagovailoa, and Sam Darnold were worse under pressure last season. Of those four, Tagovailoa is the only one with a starting job in 2022. With a weak offensive line in front of him, scheming ways to get Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack into the pocket will force Carr into mistakes.

Limit Davante Adams

You’ll never completely shut Adams down, especially now that he’s back playing with his college quarterback. But limiting his impact on this game will undoubtedly be a point of emphasis. If JC Jackson can play, it’s an easy fix: put Jackson on an island with Adams, hope your guy wins, and move on. But if Jackson can’t go as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery, Brandon Staley and defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill will have to get more creative. Neither Michael Davis nor Asante Samuel Jr. has the chops to stick with Adams one-on-one. LA will have to dedicate more safety help, likely from Nasir Adderley, in zone looks to keep Adams honest.

Hold up in run defense.

This goes without saying, considering Josh Jacobs ran for 132 yards on 26 carries in Week 18 last season. LA reinforced the defensive line this offseason and kept vaunted run stopper Breiden Fehoko over Christian Covington, who’s more of a pass rush specialist from the interior. Jacobs was 37th in the league in rushing DVOA among running backs with at least 100 carries last season, so his standout performance against the Chargers wasn’t the norm. If LA can field even a competent run defense this time around, they should be able to stymie Jacobs.

Win the turnover battle

In the Week 18 matchup last season, the Chargers failed to record a turnover while the Raiders intercepted Justin Herbert and forced an Andre Roberts fumble on a punt return. LA did force two fumbles, one on Derek Carr and one on tight end Foster Moreau, but Vegas recovered both. But in the Week 4 game, the Chargers picked off Carr and stayed clean on offense en route to a 28-14 victory. As mentioned, getting Carr off-rhythm will force him into mistakes. Converting on those mistakes and forcing the Raiders defense to spend most of the game on the field could be the difference, considering how high-octane Vegas’ offense looks on paper.

Nasir Adderley making strides towards big season for Chargers

Nasir Adderley will play an integral role in a loaded Chargers defense.

There was the sense that safety Nasir Adderley was going to make a leap in Brandon Staley’s scheme when he took the Chargers’ head coach position.

Adderley, the 2019 second-round pick, did just that.

After having his rookie season hampered by an injury and experiencing highs and lows under former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in his sophomore season, Adderley finally came into his own in Year 3.

Utilized as a deep safety, in the slot, and in the box, Adderley made plays in coverage and showed improvement as a tackler in open space, something he struggled with early on in his career.

Adderley played with more aggressiveness, the athleticism to match skill players, and the ability to anticipate well and trust his diagnosis skills to put himself in a position to make plays.

“You’re able to look at the quarterback’s tendencies,” Adderley said on Staley’s scheme. “You’re able to look at where the receivers align and the down-and-distances and all of that. When you’re not thinking about what you have to do, you’re able to look at a lot more.

As a result, Adderley set career-highs in tackles (99), tackles for loss (3), passes defended (5), and forced fumbles (1).

While he was around the football a lot in coverage and had opportunities for a few interceptions, Adderley did not produce a single takeaway. For reference, he had 11 interceptions in his college career at Delaware.

Adderley has two picks at training camp. While Derwin James has sat out since the start of camp amid contract extension negotiations, Adderley has been the standout of the safety group.

“He’s earning it in camp here,” Staley said of Adderley. “He’s really flashing in the run game and in the pass game. Little things — command before the ball is snapped, helping his teammates out.”

Entering his fourth season, Adderley will play an integral role in a loaded secondary next to James, which features All-Pro J.C. Jackson and second-year Asante Samuel Jr.

With a revamped front that is bound to cause consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, an advanced understanding of the scheme, and his unique skillset, Adderley’s ball production should increase.

Projecting Chargers’ secondary depth chart in 2022

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers secondary will look like in the 2022 season.

Football has returned, and the Chargers officially kick off training camp with high expectations and new faces.

A revamped secondary loaded with star power starters is sure to be watched closely, along with the depth waiting in the wings behind them.

Here is how I expect the defensive back room to shake up when the Chargers head into Week 1 against the Raiders

Cornerbacks

J.C. Jackson

The $82.5 million free agency splurge. Jackson was brought to Los Angeles to erase No. 1 targets and frustrate quarterbacks into throwing interceptions. He is one of the NFL’s best cover men and will face no shortage of tests in 2022.

Asante Samuel Jr.

After many draft analysts pegged the former Florida State Seminole as a slot-exclusive player, the Chargers demonstrated their faith in the second-round choice by trusting him on the outside. Samuel is technically sound, sticky to his opponent’s hips, and multitasks with confidence. His ascension opposite Jackon will be exciting to watch

Bryce Callahan

Staley praised the former Denver Bronco slot agent’s movement skills, long speed, and lower body strength this offseason. Callahan is a capable defender against the more agile inside weapons, and he’s a great fit for Staley’s defensive philosophy that values athleticism over size.

Michael Davis

Last year’s CB1 finds himself as a rotational player heading into this season, but Davis offers the Chargers vital flexibility. If the offense’s top target shifts to the slot for a play, Davis suit up at the outside spot and allow Samuel to move inside. Davis had his share of ups and downs in 2021, but he knows the defensive system and offers 4.34 speed with plenty of length at 6-foot-2.

Ja’Sir Taylor

Taylor didn’t capture national attention during the draft process, but the sixth-round selection is versatile, fast, and brings a studious mentality to the game. Taylor tracks the ball well and responds to every detail revealed by the offense. He’ll back up Callahan in the slot and contribute as a returner on special teams.

Deane Leonard

Leonard will compete with Teavaughn Campbell, Kemon Hall, and Mark Webb Jr. for the final spot in the defensive back room. He’s only a rookie still learning the system, but his quickness, ball skills, and strong OTA performance give him the best shot to make the team. 

Safeties

Derwin James

James rebounded with a strong 2021 campaign after missing eleven games the previous season. He’s the perfect blend of physicality, range, coverage ability, and instincts. Rumblings around the league suggest he’s primed for a massive payday before the start of the season.

Nasir Adderley

Adderley lined up with James for a full season and the results were catastrophic for offenses. Staley will alternate James and Adderley over the top and down in the box, using them both as chess pieces to add strength against the pass and patch up necessary gaps facing the run. Adderley puts down ball carriers hard and has only scraped the surface of his opportunistic abilities.

J.T. Woods

Woods played the ultimate centerfielder role for Baylor and racked up so many interceptions the coaching staff started calling him ‘The Heartbreak Kid.’ He’s also got 4.3 speed (notice a trend?) to provide swift help to the team’s cornerbacks when needed. Woods and his eye for turnovers in the deep half should lead to more freedom for James and Adderley.

Alohi Gilman

Gilman will compete with Woods for two-deep duties behind Woods and Adderley. He contributed 37 tackles and an interception to the unit last season. Both Adderley and James have missed the majority of a season at one point in their careers, so having extra depth at the position is a good idea.

40 highest-rated Chargers players in ‘Madden 23’

Here are the Los Angeles Chargers’ 40 highest-rated players in this year’s version of the game.

EA Sports’ Madden 23 will officially drop to the general public on Aug 19, but today marked the release of individual overall ratings for every player in the NFL.

Here are the team’s 40 highest-rated Chargers players in this year’s version of the game.

Early look at the Chargers’ 2023 defensive free agents

Highlighting the Chargers’ defensive players set to hit the market after this upcoming season and whether or not they will be re-signed.

The Chargers currently have about $16.5 million in cap space left for 2022.

While Tom Telesco historically uses roughly $7 million of that on in-season acquisitions, that still leaves close to $9.5 million that should be rolled over onto the 2023 cap. It’s an important number to keep an eye on with a few key contributors set to hit free agency.

With that being said, here’s an early look at the defensive players Los Angeles will need to decide on next offseason.

Likely to be Retained

Derwin James, S

Drue Tranquill, LB

Nasir Adderley, S

James is a franchise cornerstone and has made a point of stepping into a leadership role during OTAs this offseason. He was also one of the representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new team facility in El Segundo in mid-May, along with QB Justin Herbert. While his extension isn’t done yet, the two-time All-Pro doesn’t seem worried about it, saying last week that it’ll “take care of itself”. Ideally, Los Angeles locks him up before the season even starts, because it’s clear that they don’t intend to let James hit the open market. So expect big money, but perhaps not market-setting numbers given James’ injury history.

Adderley had his best season as a pro in 2021, earning a 66.2 PFF grade for the year. While he’s had his ups and downs, playing alongside a healthy James has helped elevate Adderley’s game to new heights. There are still a few times where his pursuit angles could be better, but he only recently turned 25 and still has plenty of time to grow even further. Remember that this is a player who had almost all of his rookie year in 2019 taken from him due to injury and then dealt with the COVID-19 impacted offseason in 2020. The fact that he took a step forward when healthy with a more routine offseason in 2021 should be a good sign. I expect him to be back beyond 2022.

Tranquill is the hardest one of these to nail down. On the one hand, he’s talented enough to be retained. He seems to be well-liked in the locker room, considering Herbert and corner Asante Samuel Jr. have both recently appeared on Tranquill’s podcast. But on the other hand, we just watched this regime let Kyzir White walk after his best season as a pro. Brandon Staley’s defense largely seeks to eliminate the concept of the linebacker with a healthy dose of 5-1 fronts. However, Tranquill is arguably LA’s best linebacker heading into 2022, and I choose to believe another season of solid play will be enough to convince the front office that he deserves to stick around.

Make or Break Season

Jerry Tillery, IDL

Christian Covington, IDL

The fact that this is a make-or-break season for Tillery shouldn’t come as a surprise after Los Angeles declined his fifth-year option. What was surprising, however, was the fourth-year pro’s absence from the first week of OTAs, perhaps a sign that the former first-rounder is less than thrilled with how things are going. It’s suddenly a heated battle for snaps along the defensive line. Staley has said that outside of Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, it will essentially be an open competition for reps. Recent signing Morgan Fox is familiar with the defensive system and seems like an easy choice as Tillery’s replacement in the starting lineup should it come to that. Rookie Otito Ogbonnia is also a candidate to eat into his snaps. I lean towards the opinion that Tillery will be in a different uniform in 2023, but I do hope that he can find a more stable footing this season.

It’s a similar outlook for Covington, who I think could be a surprise roster cut before the 2022 season even opens if he’s not at his sharpest during camp. Joseph-Day, Johnson, Ogbonnia, Fox, and Tillery seem likely to make the roster, and LA only kept five defensive linemen last season. A sixth is expected this year, with it likely coming down to Covington versus Breiden Fehoko, who was one of the better run stoppers on last year’s team and would provide quality depth. Maybe Covington’s veteran presence is enough to keep him on the team, but I think he’d have to elevate his play from 2021 to earn another contract. That’s not to say he was bad in 2021, but the quality of the position group has improved since then.

Too Early to Tell

Kyle Van Noy, EDGE

Bryce Callahan, CB

Morgan Fox, IDL

Troy Reeder, LB

All four players were signed this offseason to one-year deals, but all four should see time at some point or another. Van Noy is this year’s Kyler Fackrell, the third pass rusher on a prove-it deal. I’m interested to see if Staley leans into his versatility to manufacture some linebacker production as well, especially in those 5-1 fronts where Van Noy could drop into a more traditional LB role from the line of scrimmage.

Callahan will be part of what looks to be a healthy rotation at corner while pulling double duty as a mentor for Asante Samuel Jr., a player with similar traits to Callahan’s. Expect him to see most of his reps in the slot when LA wants to keep Samuel on the outside, but there will also be plenty of times where Samuel moves inside to get Michael Davis some live reps on the boundary. Staying healthy will be the big key for Callahan, who’s never played every game in an NFL season.

Despite being on the market until May after being released by Carolina, I think Fox will be competing for a starting role in powder blue. I imagine he’ll end up splitting time with Tillery, but Fox brings better run defense ability without trading in too much value as a pass rusher. Returning to Staley’s defensive system, which earned him the two-year, $8 million contract from the Panthers in the first place, should also help him return to form.

Reeder should primarily be a special teams and depth addition, considering the Chargers rarely put three linebackers on the field at once. With Tranquill and Kenneth Murray set to hold down the two starting jobs, he’ll mostly get rotational snaps and fill in for injuries. However, considering his familiarity with the defensive scheme from his time on the Rams, he should be at least serviceable if pressed into full-time action.

What addition of Bryce Callahan means for Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr.

The Chargers have plenty of options in the secondary.

It’s never too early for Brandon Staley to start tinkering with his defense.

That includes these summer days leading up to training camp, and the Chargers’ head handyman was already in his toolbox adjusting the roles and designations of his secondary.

The first-team defense operated out of the nickel package during the 11-on-11 period during Tuesday’s minicamp session, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. However, the setup looked a bit different from last season.

Star-studded free-agent acquisition J.C. Jackson manned one of the outside corner spots, while second year rising talent Asante Samuel Jr. was his wingman on the opposite side. Bryce Callahan, who joined the team in the offseason after a three-year stint with the Broncos, suited up as the slot defender.

That left Michael Davis, one of the team’s primary outside cornerbacks in 2021, on the sidelines while the first team practiced. Early observation would imply Davis is now the fourth cornerback on the roster and will be rotated in when needed, and that Callahan is the top candidate for slot duties.

Staley likes what he sees from Callahan so far. He praised Callahan’s quick thinking and ability to react with anticipation, as well as his vision for developments in the offense. Discussing Callahan’s fit in the nickel, Staley was thorough in his explanation of how the cornerback’s skills are a match for his system.

“He’s got a unique combination of quickness and then strength in his lower body,” Staley told the media on Tuesday. “He’s not a small guy that gets pushed around because he’s got strong lowers. But he’s also got long speed, which is rare. You have some nickels that are quick. They have quickness, but they don’t have deep speed. Bryce has quickness and deep speed, and he has good ball skills. So, you put all that together, and he’s got good toughness and he’s a good tackler, underrated blitzer, and I think if you look at his production since he’s come into the league, it’s reflective of those qualities.”

The addition of Callahan accomplishes two things. For starters, Callahan’s strengths complement Staley’s defensive philosophy and allow the defense to remain agile and explosive whenever the nickel package is required.

Secondly, Callahan playing the slot maximizes the amount of time Samuel will be on the field. While Samuel is seeing slot reps and spent time at the position as a rookie, the Chargers value his fluidity and ball skills at the outside spot more. With Callahan defending the slot receiver, Samuel can remain in coverage against the X or Y threats.

Furthermore, if Samuel adjusts well to a full-time outside corner spot, it allows other secondary playmakers like Derwin James and Nasir Adderley to make an impact elsewhere on the field.

Jackson earned his lockdown stripes during his time in New England. It’s likely the Chargers will trust him with a healthy amount of one-on-one matchups. It wouldn’t be surprising if it was in the details of his $82.5 million contract.

However, if Samuel gains the same confidence, it will give Staley more schematic freedom to cleverly craft the pass rush and further confuse offenses.

Chargers excited about Mark Webb’s potential in Year 2

A knee injury kept Mark Webb from seeing the field more in 2021.

The Chargers will have some new members in the secondary, but a few familiar faces will also be vying to make contributions in 2022. Among them is second-year Mark Webb.

Drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft, Webb appeared in seven games. Two of them were on defense, including Week 3 against the Chiefs when Derwin James missed the second half with a shoulder injury.

While his playing time was limited, Webb was on his way to seeing the field more frequently, but a knee injury that landed him on the injured reserve stopped that from coming to fruition.

Webb is still rehabbing his injury and has been out of the team’s organized team activities (OTAs) up to this point, but the plan is for him to be ready for training camp.

“He’s going to add a lot of competition in the secondary, we’re expecting a lot from him,” Brandon Staley said. “He’s a guy that was on the verge of playing a lot of football for us and then he had the injury. We’re hopeful for him, and I’m excited to see him compete.”

With Webb’s return, he will supply safety depth along with rookie JT Woods and Alohi Gilman behind James and Nasir Adderley.

Should he stay healthy, Webb has the skillset to play both in the slot (Star) and a sub-package safety-linebacker hybrid role (Money).

Chargers’ 53-man roster projection following 2022 NFL draft

A look at the Los Angeles Chargers’ new positional depth and what their regular season 53-man roster may look like in September.

After adding Bryce Callahan and Kyle Van Noy, the Chargers roster stands at 86 players, four under the current limit of 90.

By opening weekend in September, they’ll need to whittle that number down to 53, along with the practice squad, which will either be 14 or 16 players, depending on whether the NFL extends the expanded practice squad rules.

Here’s a first look at how the 53 could play out, followed by who I think makes the practice squad:

Quarterback (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick

No changes from 2021 here. Herbert was electric last season, and the thought that he could improve even further in 2022 should strike fear into the hearts of opponents. Daniel is a cheap and experienced backup option that serves as more of a player-coach than anything else. Stick continues to hang on to the end of the roster, and I think he’ll sneak in again.

Running Back (4): Austin Ekeler, Isaiah Spiller, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III

Ekeler should have another stellar season as the primary ball carrier in 2022, but adding Spiller to a room losing Justin Jackson will help ease the load a bit. Despite his draft status as yet another Day 3 pick at running back, Spiller is likely the most purely talented back the Chargers have drafted in recent seasons. So expect him to soak up some carries early on. Kelley and Rountree have struggled, but both are young players who will likely be given another shot.

Fullback (1): Zander Horvath

This will come down to a training camp battle between Horvath and Gabe Nabers, but I have Horvath as the early favorite. However, Nabers could still win the spot if Horvath’s transition to full-time fullback hits a snag.

Wide Receiver (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Jalen Guyton, DeAndre Carter

Allen and Williams are both making upwards of $20 million on their most recent contracts, money that comes well deserved for Herbert’s top two options. Palmer developed nicely as a rookie in 2021, and the Chargers will look to him to step into a WR3 role more certainly this season. Guyton is a decent speed receiver whose place on the roster seems assured. The fact that LA declined to add another downfield threat at receiver via the draft tells me that the plan is for Carter to have a role on offense while also serving as the primary kick returner.

Tight End (3): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty

This is lighter than in recent seasons, but I didn’t see a good candidate to take over Stephen Anderson’s H-back duties currently on the roster. Everett replaces Jared Cook as the veteran receiving tight end, which should present an upgrade considering Cook’s drop problems in 2021. Parham should return in a healthy fashion after a scary concussion in December that cut an outstanding season short. McKitty should continue to make strides as the blocking tight end in his second season as a pro.

Offensive Line (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Zion Johnson, Storm Norton, Trey Pipkins, Will Clapp, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer

From left to right, the starters here will be Slater, Feiler, Linsley, Johnson, and…well, that’s a good question. The Chargers opted not to address right tackle during April’s draft, instead of spending a first-round pick on Johnson, who will start right away in the spot vacated by free agent Oday Aboushi. According to Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley, Feiler is also sticking at guard despite the pick. That leaves us with a likely camp battle between Norton and Pipkins for the right tackle job. Clapp, Jaimes, and Salyer are versatile pieces that will serve as quality depth, something the Chargers lacked a season ago.

Defensive Line (6): Austin Johnson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Jerry Tillery, Christian Covington, Otito Ogbonnia, Breiden Fehoko

This offseason, Johnson, Joseph-Day, and Ogbonnia have been added to shore up LA’s most talked about position group last season. Johnson should start at nose tackle, while Joseph-Day will likely shift to 3 technique after playing nose for most of his time as a Ram. Tillery figures to start once more in a make-or-break season, but don’t be surprised if Ogbonnia eats into his early-down snaps due to the latter’s run defense skills. Covington is a quality rotational piece. Fehoko was arguably the team’s best lineman last year and should be rewarded with a full-time spot on the active roster.

EDGE (4): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Kyle Van Noy, Chris Rumph II

This is a group that had a lot of questions answered with the signing of Van Noy on Thursday. In addition to his championship experience, he should fill and exceed the role Kyler Fackrell played a season ago behind Bosa and now-departed Uchenna Nwosu. Nwosu’s replacement is none other than 3-time All-Pro Khalil Mack, who makes his return to the AFC West to team up with Bosa and form one of the league’s most fearsome pass rusher tandems. The coaching staff seems high on Rumph, who will rotate in as the fourth rusher while he continues to develop.

Linebacker (5): Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Troy Reeder, Nick Niemann

Brandon Staley’s defense doesn’t place too much emphasis on the linebacker position, but this is a lean group regardless. Murray will need to make strides after struggling again last season, but early impressions this spring have apparently been overwhelmingly positive. Tranquill is probably this group’s best player right now, but he’s missed at least one game in every season as a pro. Reeder will be the first man off the bench if Tranquill or Murray can’t go and is familiar with the defense after spending the first three seasons of his career on the other side of town. Ogbongbemiga and Niemann were big special teams contributors last year and should continue those roles this season while filling in as spot starters if injuries begin to mount.

Cornerback (5): JC Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, Bryce Callahan, Ja’Sir Taylor

There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about this group. Chief amongst them is the addition of Jackson, who comes to LA after a vaunted career in New England as the Patriots’ best corner. He and Samuel will likely be your starters on the outside in the base defense. In nickel packages, expect to see Samuel shift inside to make room for Davis, who had an up-and-down year on the outside last season. Callahan isn’t a sure bet to stay healthy, but if he does, he could provide additional ammo in the slot to keep the Chargers matchup versatile. Taylor, this year’s sixth-round pick, should see time early as a special teamer.

Safety (5): Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, JT Woods, Alohi Gilman, Mark Webb

James and Adderley return as the starting safeties, where both had strong seasons in 2021. James seems to be back to his usual superstar self after battling injuries, while Adderley had his best season as a pro opposite him. 2022 third-rounder Woods should see time in dime packages when James shifts down to the box to play more of a safety/linebacker hybrid role. Gilman and Webb are both young players who have struggled with injuries, but they should rotate onto the field in smaller roles if they’re able to stay healthy.

Specialists (3): Dustin Hopkins, JK Scott, Josh Harris

Pretty straightforward here since LA only has undrafted kicker James McCourt providing any competition here. Hopkins was a revelation last season compared to the kickers of the past few seasons, and there’s little reason to believe he won’t be the kicker this year. Scott has the endorsement of new special teams coach Ryan Ficken, evidenced by the Chargers declining to add a punter in the draft or post-draft free agency. Harris was given $1.92 million guaranteed over four seasons, which means he’s got a stranglehold on that job.

Practice Squad

RB Leddie Brown

RB Kevin Marks Jr.

Brown and Marks both have a chance to unseat Kelley or Rountree as RB4, which will be one of the summer’s more hotly contested battles at Chargers camp. Ultimately, I think the competition may prove inconclusive, in which case both undrafted backs could land on the practice squad to extend their chances.

WR Michael Bandy

WR Joe Reed

Bandy has yo-yoed between active roster, practice squad, and free-agent countless times in his brief NFL career, but the Chargers saw enough in him to call him up in Week 16 against the Texans. Reed battled a foot injury for most of 2021, but he’ll likely be kept around in some capacity as a backup kick returner if DeAndre Carter gets injured.

TE Hunter Kampmoyer

Kampmoyer seems like the closest thing to Stephen Anderson currently on the roster, but I’m not sure if he’s good enough yet to warrant a full-time spot, especially on a roster as crowded as LA’s. Keeping him on the practice squad to fill that role a couple of times a year seems more likely.

OT Andrew Trainer

Trainer is an undrafted tackle from FCS William & Mary. Although he earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2021, the jump to the pro game will likely be too large for him to crack the opening roster. So I think LA will stash him and see if there’s any more development to be had.

DT Forrest Merrill

DE Joe Gaziano

Merrill and Gaziano are both rosterable players, in my opinion, but it’s tough to find spots for them and warrant carrying 7 or 8 defensive linemen. Cutting Stick for one of them is a potential option, as is trying to stash one of the 10 DBs on the practice squad. As it stands, I’m going to stick with my gut and say both players are on the outside looking in as of today.

EDGE Jamal Davis II

EDGE Ty Shelby

Davis is a CFL product who had four sacks for the Montreal Alouettes in 2021, while Shelby is an undrafted free agent from Louisiana-Monroe. Both need more seasoning before they’re ready to take on active roster roles, but both have intriguing development profiles that will warrant keeping them in-house if the Chargers are able. By year 2 or 3, perhaps one of them is ready to contribute.

LB Cole Christiansen

LB Emeke Egbule

Christiansen and Egbule are mostly kept here for special teams depth if Ogbongbemiga or Niemann gets injured. Both spent time on the practice squad last season, but neither saw extensive time in 2021.

CB Deane Leonard

Leonard has a challenging path to the roster even as one of LA’s draft picks from this season. Adding 4 DBs in the last two weeks, including Leonard, has made it a very crowded room to be in. I lean Ja’Sir Taylor over Leonard because of the former’s higher draft capital and more extensive football experience.

S Ben DeLuca

DeLuca, another of last year’s practice squad players, could stick around as added safety depth if lower-end options like Gilman or Webb get injured in special teams duty. However, he could just as quickly be supplanted by one of the rookie free agent DBs the Chargers brought in to compete for that same role.