INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 22: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley looks on during the NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers on August 22, 2021, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We have been going over all 32 teams’ offseason moves, division by division: their player personnel changes, projected preseason depth charts, and more! Alas, all good things come to an end. We put a fancy bow on “The State Of The League” and the AFC West by heading back out to L.A. to check out what the Los Angeles Chargers did this offseason!
Los Angeles Chargers Preseason Projected Depth Chart
Position
Starter
Backup
QB
Justin Herbert
Chase Daniel
RB1
Austin Ekeler
Larry Rountree
RB2
Justin Jackson
Joshua Kelley
FB
Gabe Nabers
WR1
Keenan Allen
Josh Palmer
WR2
Mike Williams
Jalen Guyton
WR3
Tyron Johnson
Austin Proehl
TE1
Jared Cook
Tre’ McKitty
TE2
Donald Parham
Stephen Anderson
LT
Rashawn Slater
Trey Pipkins
LG
Matt Feiler
Brenden Jaimes
C
Corey Linsley
Scott Quessenberry
RG
Oday Aboushi
Tyree St. Louis
RT
Bryan Bulaga
Storm Norton
DL
Jerry Tillery
Breiden Fehoko
DL
Linval Joseph
Christian Covington
DL
Justin Jones
Forrest Merrill
EDGE
Joey Bosa
Chris Rumph II
LB
Kenneth Murray
Nick Niemann
LB
Kyzir White
Drue Tranquill
EDGE
Uchenna Nwosu
Kyler Fackrell
CB1
Chris Harris Jr.
Brandon Facyson
CB2
Asante Samuel Jr.
Ryan Smith
CB3
Michael Davis
Kemon Hall
S
Nasir Adderley
Mark Webb
S
Derwin James
Alohi Gilman
K
Mike Badgley
Tristan Vizcaino
P
Ty Long
LS
Matt Overton
KR
Nasir Adderley
KJ Hill
PR
KJ Hill
Austin Proehl
*BOLD player name = Rookie*
Los Angeles Chargers 2021 NFL Draft Class
Round 1 (13th overall): OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Round 2 (47th): CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Round 3 (77th): WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee
Round 3 (97th): TE Tre’ McKitty, Georgia
Round 4 (118th): EDGE Chris Rumph II, Duke
Round 5 (159th): OT/OG Brenden Jaimes, Nebraska
Round 6: (185th): LB Nick Niemann, Iowa
Round 6 (198th): RB Larry Rountree III, Missouri
Round 7 (241st): CB Mark Webb, Georgia
Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Player Personnel Moves
Expired Contracts
Player
Position
Age
2020 Team
2021 Team
Info / Notes
Virgil Green
TE
33
LAC
Jahleel Addae
SS
31
LAC
Ryan Groy
G
31
LAC
Jaylen Watkins
CB
30
LAC
Arrivals
Player
Position
Age
2020 Team
2021 Team
Acquired via
Corey Linsley
C
30
GB
LAC
Free Agency
Matt Feiler
T/G
29
PIT
LAC
Free Agency
Jared Cook
TE
34
NO
LAC
Free Agency
Oday Aboushi
T/G
30
DET
LAC
Free Agency
Christian Covington
DT
28
CIN
LAC
Free Agency
Kyler Fackrell
OLB
30
NYG
LAC
Free Agency
Chase Daniel
QB
35
DET
LAC
Free Agency
Ryan Smith
CB
28
TB
LAC
Free Agency
Matt Overton
LS
36
TEN
LAC
Free Agency
Davin Bellamy
LB
27
SF
LAC
Free Agency
Departures
Player
Position
Age
2020 Team
2021 Team
Departed via
Mike Pouncey
C
32
LAC
—
Retirement
Melvin Ingram
OLB
32
LAC
PIT
Free Agency
Hunter Henry
TE
27
LAC
NE
Free Agency
Trai Turner
G
28
LAC
PIT
Released
Casey Hayward
CB
32
LAC
LV
Released
Denzel Perryman
ILB
29
LAC
CAR
Free Agency
Tyrod Taylor
QB
32
LAC
HOU
Free Agency
Nick Vigil
OLB
28
LAC
MIN
Free Agency
Dan Feeney
G/C
27
LAC
NYJ
Free Agency
Isaac Rochell
DT
26
LAC
IND
Free Agency
Sam Tevi
T
27
LAC
IND
Free Agency
Rayshawn Jenkins
S
27
LAC
JAX
Free Agency
Kalen Ballage
RB
26
LAC
PIT
Free Agency
Forrest Lamp
G
27
LAC
BUF
Free Agency
Cole Toner
G
27
LAC
HOU
Free Agency
Damion Square
DT
32
LAC
CLE
Free Agency
Malik Jefferson
OLB
25
LAC
IND
Released
Re-Signed
Player
Position
Age
2020 Team
2021 Team
Info / Notes
Michael Davis
CB
26
LAC
LAC
Stephen Anderson
TE
28
LAC
LAC
Michael Badgley
K
26
LAC
LAC
Tyree St. Louis
T/G
24
LAC
LAC
Brandon Facyson
CB
27
LAC
LAC
Tevaughn Campbell
CB
28
LAC
LAC
Joe Gaziano
DE
25
LAC
LAC
Matt Sokol
TE
26
LAC
LAC
Cole Christiansen
LB
24
LAC
LAC
Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Notes/Review
The Los Angeles Chargers fired former head coach Anthony Lynn despite finishing the season on a four game winning streak. The team finished the season with a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. In his place, the Chargers hired L.A. Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley brought in Joe Lombardi (New Orleans’ quarterbacks coach) and Renaldo Hill (Denver’s defensive backs coach) to be his offensive and defensive coordinators. Staley was highly sought after as a head coaching candidate this offseason after the Rams’ defense finished first in the NFL in total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and points allowed, while finishing second in sacks, and third in rushing yards allowed.
Justin Herbert had a phenomenal rookie season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he spent a lot of time running for his life behind possibly the worst offensive line in the NFL last season. The Chargers had trouble protecting Herbert, and the team finished 30th in yards per carry with only 12 rushing touchdowns. Losing Mike Pouncey to a season ending hip injury was the first domino to fall. It forced the team to move Dan Feeney to center and start Forrest Lamp at guard. Neither played well, Trai Turner was also awful after coming over from Carolina via trade, and Sam Tevi was merely average. All of them are gone – Pouncey retired, the rest left in free agency – and the rebuilt offensive line has nowhere to go but up.
Upgrading the offensive line was the top priority. Mission accomplished. The team started the massive project by signing Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, and Oday Aboushi in free agency; Linsley will be starting at center, Feiler at one guard spot, and Aboushi as the other starting guard. Linsley was a first team All Pro for Green Bay last season, despite missing three games and most of two others due to injury. He provides a massive upgrade at center and brings needed stability in the middle. Feiler and Aboushi are quality veterans who have experience at both tackle and guard. Los Angeles finished the offensive line overhaul when they selected Rashawn Slater 13th overall in the NFL Draft. Despite opting out of the 2020 season due to Covid, some analysts had Slater as their top tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft due to his strong play the season prior – he only allowed five pressures in all of 2019. There will be four new starters on the offensive line, with the lone starter being Bryan Bulaga – who also missed a few games last season due to injury. Depth up front was also a big issue, but Trey Pipkins (even though he was a complete liability) and Storm Norton got quality playing time last season, and the team drafted Brenden Jaimes in the 5th round of the Draft. Jaimes started 40 consecutive games and was credited with allowing only seven sacks in his four years at Nebraska.
Los Angeles lost tight end, Hunter Henry, in free agency to the Patriots, but made quick work in replacing him and adding some depth at receiver and tight end. The Chargers added Jared Cook in free agency to start at tight end and drafted Tre’ McKitty at the end of the 3rd round in the NFL Draft to provide depth. The team also drafted receiver Josh Palmer in the 3rd round, and he will compete with Tyron Johnson for the WR3 spot behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
The defense returns mostly intact, but the secondary will be getting a big boost with the return of Derwin James from a season-ending injury and the addition of 2nd rounder Asante Samuel Jr. at cornerback. James is one of the most gifted, young defensive players in the league, but has battled injuries the last two years. He has played in only five games total the last two seasons because of a foot fracture and a torn meniscus in his right knee. James was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie. Samuel Jr. is a bit small for the position, but he was one of the best corners in college football last season and is smooth in coverage. He has had a great offseason and is in a position to start week one on the outside opposite Chris Harris Jr.