Tag: Tony Jefferson

6 players the Chargers need to re-sign this offseason

We explore six of the best Chargers players on expiring contracts who L.A. should re-sign before 2025 NFL free agency begins.

Now that the season is over, the Chargers are turning their attention to building their roster for 2025. The first step is deciding which of their 30 looming free agents they will bring back.

Here are six of them that we want to make sure are re-signed.

EDGE Khalil Mack

The Chargers have made it clear that they would love to have Mack back, but he will now take the time to decide what he would like to do, with retirement being a potential option. Even though he will be 34 years old next season, Mack still has some gas left in the tank. He can still get after the quarterback and defend the run at a high level. Plus, Los Angeles could benefit from having a proven veteran in the edge defender room if the team moves on from Joey Bosa.

RB J.K. Dobbins

The Chargers took a chance on injury-riddled Dobbins, which paid off, as he was highly impactful. For the most part, he stayed healthy throughout the season, showing the player he was in college and during his rookie season. In 13 games, Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. After proving himself, he should return as the team’s primary back.

DL Poona Ford

How Ford wasn’t named a Pro Bowler is beyond me. Ford was a key cog on the defensive line, making his most significant impact against the run, where he was clogging running lanes, taking on double teams, and penetrating the backfield. He was the seventh-best defensive lineman out of 219 in run defense grade (78.8), according to Pro Football Focus. Ford had the fifth-best overall grade among all defensive linemen (85.1)

DL Teair Tart

If the Chargers want to build continuity along the defensive line, something they haven’t done in many years, it would be wise to bring back another key contributor. Tart wreaked havoc, not just against the run, but as a pass rusher. I imagine Tart won’t be as expensive as Ford might be, making this a no-brainer of a re-sign.

S Elijah Molden

Like Tart, Molden is another former Titans player who was signed by the Chargers right before the season and was an excellent player. Molden was a playmaker on the back end before his season-ending injury, finishing with career-highs in tackles (75), interceptions (3) and passes defended (7). His 75.6 PFF overall grade ranked 12th among qualified safeties, and his 75.4 PFF coverage grade was 11th.

S Tony Jefferson

Jefferson went from being retired and serving as a scouting intern for the Ravens to returning to the NFL and making plays for the Chargers every time he played, including the big forced and recovered fumble in the playoff game against the Texans. Even though he will be 33, Jefferson has made it clear that he wants to continue playing, so why not keep the SoCal native? Plus, it would be good to have another veteran in the safety room.

Chargers’ top 10 defensive performers in 2024, per PFF

Here’s a look at the top 10 defensive performers based on Pro Football Focus’ overall grades.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ season ended when they fell flat to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs.

With the offseason on the horizon, Pro Football Focus’ year-end defensive player rankings will become all the more important as Los Angeles looks to revamp for 2025.

Here are the Chargers’ top-10 defensive performers by PFF’s metrics:

1. EDGE Khalil Mack

PFF grade: 90.2

2. S Tony Jefferson

PFF grade: 89.0

3. DL Poona Ford

PFF grade: 85.3

4. S Derwin James Jr.

PFF grade: 80.8

5. DL Teair Tart

PFF grade: 78.1

6. S Elijah Molden

PFF grade: 75.6

7. CB Tarheeb Still

PFF grade: 75.2

8. LB Daiyan Henley

PFF grade: 67.0

9. CB Kristian Fulton

PFF grade: 68.9

10. EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu

PFF grade: 66.5

Chargers sign Tony Jefferson to active roster

In wake of Derwin James’ suspension, the Chargers signed Tony Jefferson to the active roster. Here is what it means.

Tony Jefferson is officially on the active roster.

The Chargers announced on Thursday that they had signed the veteran to an active roster contract, moving him up from the practice squad in a permanent fashion. Los Angeles had one roster spot available due to the suspension of safety Derwin James, who does not count against the 53-man roster limit this week while he serves his suspension.

Jefferson will add depth to the safety room with James out. Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden will be the presumed starters, with AJ Finley coming on when LA brings a third safety onto the field and Jefferson primarily contributing on special teams.

Jefferson had been elevated from the practice squad in Week 2 to fill in for an injured Gilman, so this will be his second game active for the Chargers in the regular season.

To fill Jefferson’s practice squad spot, the Chargers also signed offensive lineman Braeden Daniels, a fourth round pick by the Commanders in last year’s draft. Daniels, a Utah alum, has played guard and tackle and also has experience at center from his time in college. He could potentially be elevated to add depth for Los Angeles given the number of injuries on the offensive line coming into Sunday’s game with the Chiefs.

Chargers sign Taylor Heinicke, make several roster moves

The Chargers made several roster moves on Thursday.

The Chargers made several roster moves on Thursday, including making the signing of quarterback Taylor Heinicke official.

Los Angeles will send the Falcons a 2025 seventh-round pick that converts into a 2025 sixth-rounder if certain conditions are met.

In correspondence, the team released safety Tony Jefferson and waived running back Jaret Patterson. Jefferson was signed to the practice squad.

Additionally, L.A. signed center Sam Mustipher and tight end Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad. Cornerback Robert Kennedy was released from the practice squad.

Mustipher spent the 2023 season with the Ravens, appearing in seven games and starting two. Before that, he spent the first three seasons of his career with the Bears, where he made 40 starts.

Tomlinson has played in 85 career games (53 starts) between seven teams (Ravens, Texans, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, Jets and Eagles). He has totaled 27 receptions for 280 yards (10.4 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.

5 thoughts on the Chargers’ initial 53-man roster

Here are five quick thoughts on the decisions the Chargers made to get to their initial roster for the 2024 season.

The Chargers announced their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

This roster is subject to change as waiver wire claims are made on Wednesday and other players are moved around.

Here’s what we learned from Los Angeles’ initial 53-man roster:

Easton Stick is the backup…at least for now

After showing promise in the final few games of the 2023 season while Justin Herbert was on the injured reserve, Stick took a massive step back this summer. While Herbert was out of practice for a few weeks with the plantar fascia injury in his right foot, Stick struggled to engineer a productive offense in training camp, which then carried over to the preseason. If Herbert were to go down in the season, the Chargers would be in trouble with Stick under center based on his showing. That’s why I expect Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh to be active in calling teams looking to make a trade or sign an available one.

Seven wide receivers

I thought that Hortiz and Harbaugh would only keep six wideouts. However, they made the right decision by rewarding Brenden Rice and Simi Fehoko for their hard work this summer. Rice had an outstanding camp but was limited in preseason play due to the inefficient quarterback play. He showed not only route-running prowess but also high effort as a blocker. It was hard to keep Fehoko off the roster after a productive preseason. He finished with seven catches on nine targets for 170 yards. On top of that, Fehoko shined on special teams.

Donald Parham’s time is over

As much of a reliable target for Herbert over the past four seasons, Parham did not make the cut because he struggled to stay healthy consistently and still left much to be desired as a blocker, something Greg Roman wants from his tight ends. Stone Smartt made the roster after showing growth in the blocking department while managing to be an asset in the passing game. The Chargers would still benefit from another player in this position room, particularly a plus blocker.

Does not have the EDGE

I thought the Chargers would keep five edge rushers, with that spot going to Tre’Mon Morris-Brash. However, they elected to roster four players at the position. Morris-Brash showed proficiency as a pass rusher and capped off a sensational summer with a pick-six against the Cowboys. He should be a practice squad player. Chris Rumph II was making his case to earn a spot on the roster before suffering a foot injury against the Seahawks. He won’t play this year as he was placed on season-ending reserve.

11 defensive backs

I was under the assumption that the Chargers would only keep ten defensive backs, but they ultimately decided to start with 11. Rather than choosing between Tony Jefferson and JT Woods, the team kept both. Jefferson had a quiet summer until the final preseason game, where he played out of his mind, posting 14 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. He brings another veteran presence and experience to a fairly young defensive back room. Woods’ ability to play safety and cornerback and his signs of improvement, especially as a tackler, earned him a spot.

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ initial 53-man roster

A look at how social media reacted to the Chargers’ initial 53-man roster.

The Chargers constructed their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hardest cuts from our final Chargers 53-man roster projection

Here are the toughest cuts from our latest 53-man projection.

The Chargers are less than 24 hours away from announcing their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 regular season, meaning a handful of players will be cut, even some who had strong performances this summer.

Here are the toughest cuts from our latest 53-man projection:

WR Brenden Rice

It will be interesting to see how General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh approach the wide receiver position. It’s hard to see the Chargers keeping seven wideouts, and I think Simi Fehoko’s production will earn him the sixth spot. Rice flashed as a route runner, with most of his plays coming in training camp. Unfortunately, due to the lackluster play at quarterback, he wasn’t able to replicate that in the preseason.

TE Donald Parham

The tight end position is vital in Greg Roman’s offense, but something he wants from his players at the position is the ability to block. That was one of Pathan’s weaknesses coming into the summer and he didn’t show any signs of improvement in that department. As much as he and Justin Herbert built a solid rapport in the passing game the past four seasons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him not make the cut due to his lack of blocking skills and struggles to stay healthy consistently.

S Tony Jefferson

After being quiet for most of the summer, Jefferson had the best preseason game against the Cowboys, posting double-digit tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack. The 10-year veteran made a strong case to make the roster from that performance alone, as he showed that he’s still capable of making plays on the back end. However, I think JT Woods showed enough growth and his versatility to play outside cornerback lands him a spot on the roster.

Former Sooner Tony Jefferson shows out in preseason finale

Tony Jefferson has been making plays since his days in Norman.

Former Oklahoma Sooners defensive back [autotag]Tony Jefferson[/autotag] had a fantastic three-year career in Norman. He then went on to bring his hard-hitting ways to the NFL and played for five teams from 2013 to 2022.

His career was thought to be over, but he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this season and had a vintage performance in LA’s preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jefferson totaled 12 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, two passes defended, one forced fumble and two interceptions, bringing it back to his days dominating in the secondary at Oklahoma.

Jefferson was the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] Co-Freshman of the Year in 2010 and a Freshman All-American that same season. He had seven sacks and 18 TFLs as a Sooner, impressive numbers for a defensive back.

He also picked off eight passes, including four in 2011. He played for current Oklahoma head coach and former OU defensive coordinator [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] for two seasons before finishing up under Mike Stoops in 2012.

Coming out of retirement may prove to be the right decision for Jefferson, as he could make a major impact in the Chargers’ secondary if he continues to play like he did on Saturday.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Chargers 53-man roster projection: Final prediction before cutdown day

Here’s one final guess at what the initial Chargers 53-man roster will look like.

Training camp and preseason play are over, so now the Chargers coaching staff will use them as their resources to get the roster from 91 players to 53 ahead of the 2024 regular season.

The team will have until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday to make their cuts.

With that being said, here is our final projection of what we believe the initial roster will look like.

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Stick had the opportunity all summer to show he’s a serviceable backup, but he failed to do so. I believe he will make the initial roster, but Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will see which quarterbacks are available once cuts are made and end up signing one and letting go of Stick.

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Kimani Vidal

No changes from my last projection. Despite being a mainstay on special teams, Isaiah Spiller did not do much on the ground. Patterson was a summer standout. Vidal was productive upon returning from his injury, rushing for 49 yards on 11 carries against the Rams in Week 2.

Wide receiver (6): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko

No changes. Fehoko capped off an impressive summer with a 78-yard touchdown against the Cowboys. Brenden Rice stood out in training camp, but the same thing can’t be said about his performances in the preseason, mainly due to the lackluster quarterback play. Rice is worthy of a spot. He is a sharp route runner who blocks his tail off. But I can’t see the Chargers rostering seven wideouts.

Tight end (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Stone Smartt

Sometimes the best ability is availability, and that does not apply to Donald Parham, who’s struggled to stay healthy. He has also not improved as a blocker, something the Chargers want from their tight ends. Meanwhile, Smartt has improved in this department. He will also make his money on special teams.

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell

No changes.

Edge rusher (5): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash

I have the Chargers starting the season with five edge rushers. Chris Rumph II would’ve been given the nod after having a great summer. Unfortunately, he is dealing with a foot injury and I believe he will begin the season on the injured reserve. Morris-Brash showed some real juice as a pass rusher in training camp and preseason. He capped off his summer with a pick-six against the Cowboys.

Interior defensive line (6): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Teair Tart, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe

No changes. Eboigbe was practically nonexistent during camp and preseason. But the team used a fairly high draft pick on him, and playing defensive tackle in this league as a rookie is a learning curve so I believe he is safe.

Linebacker (5): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye

No changes.

Cornerback (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart

No changes.

Safety (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, JT Woods

Tony Jefferson had the best performance of the preseason against the Cowboys, finishing with 14 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. But I believe it was a little too late to warrant a roster spot. I expect him to land on the practice squad as he is not subject to waivers if he’s released. Finley played his way to being the third safety. Woods makes the squad, as he showed signs of improvement and intrigued as an outside cornerback, the position he transitioned to toward the end of the summer.

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

No changes.

Projecting the Chargers’ safety depth chart in 2024

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers safety room will look like entering the 2024 season.

With training camp nearing, I finish breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position with the safety group.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Edge rusher

Interior defensive line

Linebacker

Cornerback

Derwin James

James finished the 2023 season with 125 tackles, seven passes defensed, two sacks and one interception across 16 games. He made his most appearances since his 2018 rookie campaign, but he wasn’t quite the same playmaker as he had in seasons prior when he earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods. Despite the down year, James is still a dynamic player who can cover, play the run and blitz. Rather than moving him all over the field, Jesse Minter plans to put him in positions where he can best utilize his skills to get him back on track.

Alohi Gilman

The Chargers brought back Gilman this offseason after proving his worth in his first season as a full-time starter. He amassed career-high numbers in tackles (73), interceptions (2), and forced fumbles (3). With Gilman sticking around, he will play a key role alongside James.

Tony Jefferson

After retiring following the 2022 season, Jefferson returned to the NFL. After trying out at mandatory minicamp, he landed a contract with the Chargers. Jefferson has a decade of experience in the league, playing for four different teams. For his career, Jefferson has 492 tackles, eight forced fumbles, four interceptions, and 24 passes defended in 113 games (67 starts). He has the versatility to play in the box, as a deep safety and in the slot.

Akeem Dent

Dent is the only undrafted free agent I have making the 53-man roster. Dent is an experienced player, appearing in 54 games (40 starts) for the Florida State Seminoles. He is versatile, as he has seen playing time at cornerback, safety and nickel. His athleticism, explosiveness, and physicality would also serve well on special teams. Across four seasons in college, Dent totaled 187 tackles, 16 passes defended, five tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and an interception.