Los Angeles Chargers 2019 player rankings: No. 18

The Los Angeles Chargers boast one of the most talented rosters in the NFL; let’s rank them! Here’s the No. 18 ranked player…

The Los Angeles Chargers were named the NFL’s most complete team by NFL.com columnist Adam Schein, who believes the team is both loaded with starting talent and very capable depth. It’s hard to blame him; after all, the team had seven of its players selected to the Pro-Bowl last year, and three made First-Team All-Pro. It’s a roster full of talent, but who is the best?

Here is the list so far:

• 20. DE Isaac Rochell
• 19. CB Michael Davis

This week will be different, and this will be the only time this happens in this ranking series: it’s a tie! Today’s No. 18 ranked players are: LB Kyzir White and LB Jatavis Brown.

2018 Stats:

White: 17 total tackles, one interception, two passes defended

Brown: 97 total tackles, one sack, five passes defended

2018 Best Play (White): Interception vs Josh Allen (Bills)

2018 Best Play (Brown): Sack vs Josh Allen (Bills)

We got two really good looks at why the Chargers drafted Kyzir White in the second quarter. This is the first. 3rd and 1. KC w/ four in backfield, ball is snapped to Spencer Ware. He fakes hand off and takes it himself. Kyzir isn’t fooled, comes down hill, lowers the boom at LOS. pic.twitter.com/21vfYoYrur

— The Lightning Round Podcast (@Lightning_Round) September 10, 2018

Why they make the list:

White was brought in from college and converted from safety to play the “Will” linebacker position. At 6’2″, 218 pounds, White was the player the Chargers were looking for to upgrade the athleticism and size among their linebacker corps. In training camp in the preseason, White actually won the starting job from Brown, and outside of Derwin James was the most exciting draft addition that year. He adopted the defensive scheme very quickly, and excelled early.

Brown, following an injury to White (and Denzel Perryman) was given his first start in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, and appeared in 15 games last year. His 97 combined tackles were a career-high, and he would have likely broken 100 if not for a late injury that forced him out of most of the Week 17 finale.

White (assuming health) is the better player of the two; that much was made clear by the coaching staff and evident in his on the field performance. Brown, however, should be praised for stepping in and having a career year.

Why they aren’t higher:

Chargers currently at 90 players. Here’s a closer look: pic.twitter.com/pBPLhUlBte

— Eric Williams (@eric_d_williams) May 17, 2019

Well, that’s a problem.

The Chargers do not view Brown as a starter, although they appear very confident with him as a reserve player. If healthy, White would have been the starter without question. However, the team appears ready to make Thomas Davis, the team’s only notable addition this past free agency who will see the field at all, is penciled in as the starting Will.

So, White and Brown have similar issues:

• Recovering from injuries
• (Currently) stuck behind Davis
• Short résumé as starters

For those reasons, it’s hard to put one ahead of the other. Betting money would be on White to win a training camp battle, so it’s likely future rankings will see the former fourth-round selection move up a few spots. The list is flexible (in the future), so for now, both sit at the same ranking. Though both are important contributors to the team, it is hard to rank them above some of the players to come, especially as the list nears the Top 15. Should either be higher, or lower?