LA Chargers: Reasonable predictions for 2020 defensive rookies

LA Chargers’ defensive rookie expectations: Kenneth Murray

• 55 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble

Some Charger fans might be expecting a big year out of Kenneth Murray but realistically, he is probably going to be someone who does not really stand out much on the defensive side of the ball and simply does what the team needs him to do.

His biggest role in the defense is going to be to disrupt the running game and plug the gaps in the offensive line. The Chargers have been so snake-bitten by the run in the past that they went out and got that traditional, athletic, hard-hitting inside linebacker that is going to make plays on the ball.

Because of that, he is going to have a fair number of tackles in his rookie season and it will likely only go up from there, but the rest of the numbers are not going to be that great.

I do think that he gets two sacks on the year. One of which will be on a designed blitz where the opposing team calls play action and Murray gets to the quarterback, the other will be against a rushing quarterback, such as Josh Allen, where Murray is the spy and gets to him behind the line of scrimmage.

He is not going to be called upon in the pass-rush often, if at all.

I do think he will manage to get two passes defended in his rookie season as the result of being on the field for play-action calls, and he will force one fumble.

Realistically, Murray is probably going to be a rotational backer that either comes in against designed runs to stack the box or as part of a big nickel package. His rookie season won’t be exceptional, but it will be a nice start to a good career.