LA Chargers: Projecting the 2020 defensive depth chart

Free agency and the draft rapidly approach with some fairly big changes in store for the LA Chargers. What does the defensive side of the ball look like in 2020?

Last week, I wrote about what the LA Chargers‘ offensive depth chart might look like in 2020. While the offense is likely to undergo more severe changes than the defense, the Chargers will still look to improve the roster and make some crucial decisions.

What will become of free agent Adrian Phillips? Do the Chargers tweak the defense, or go with more of a comprehensive overhaul? Jatavis Brown and Isaac Rochell are also key contributors that could leave for other teams.

Defensive Ends: Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Uchenna Nwosu, Isaac Rochell

It’s fairly unlikely that there will be any changes here. The most likely change would be if Rochell gets paid somewhere else and decides to leave, but even that’s probably not happening. Defensive end is a solidified position for the Chargers, and there’s no reason to break up the group now.

When it comes to defensive end in the long term though, there are a few interesting questions. When do the Chargers decide to extend Joey Bosa? That could either solidify his position with the team for years to come or allow him to test free agency. There’s no way the Chargers should begin to even think about letting the latter happen.

Another thing to watch is how the dynamic between Melvin Ingram and Uchenna Nwosu starts to shift. Will Nwosu get more snaps? It’s possible, considering the Chargers are in a position where Ingram could very well leave in free agency in 2021 by simply demanding too much for the team to afford with the other players they need to pay. Ingram was also injured in 2019 and will look to try to stay on the field for all 16 games this year.