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LA Chargers: Five fun position battles after the NFL Draft

By Jason Reed

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 18: Rayshawn Jenkins #23 of the Los Angeles Chargers (center), is pumped after Jenkins intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass late in the first quarter during an NFL football game on Monday, November 18, 2019, in Mexico City. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 24-17. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 18: Rayshawn Jenkins #23 of the Los Angeles Chargers (center), is pumped after Jenkins intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass late in the first quarter during an NFL football game on Monday, November 18, 2019, in Mexico City. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 24-17. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

Jerry Tillery and Justin Jones — DT2

New signing Linval Joseph is a lock to be starting a majority of the downs for the LA Chargers in 2020 and the real position battle on the defensive line is between two young players in Jerry Tillery and Justin Jones.

Realistically, both are going to get playing time as rotational defensive tackles based on the formation, scheme and situation, but one will emerge as the Chargers’ go-to second defensive tackle.

Like Lamp, Tillery absolutely has more potential. He was the Chargers’ first-round pick in 2019 and while he had a very disappointing rookie season, he still has a lot of good film from his college days and can piece it together after a full NFL season to be a difference-maker.

Jones is a more reliable option that does not tend to disappear in games, although he does not have the highs that Tillery has. He started all 12 games that he played in last season and he serves more as a run-stuffing defensive tackle, whereas Tillery has more talent to get to the quarterback.

A lot of Charger fans already think the ship has sailed on Tillery and I simply do not think that is the case. Hopefully, adding a veteran like Linval Jopseh to the line can help Tillery blossom into a solid NFL player. If not, Jones is not a bad option.

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