Strongest areas of the LA Chargers depth chart: #4 Cornerback
Most Charger fans would probably have the cornerback unit higher up on this list but what it irrefutable is that it is a top-five area of the depth chart and is one of the most complete cornerback groups in the entire league.
My problem with the cornerback group is that on paper it is great, but I do project there to be a slight regression. It will still be well above average, but when we reflect on the 2020 season, I think we will look back at the cornerbacks being the fourth-strongest area of the depth chart.
Casey Hayward does not get the love that he deserves in the NFL as one of the best corners in the league and is easily a top-seven cornerback at worst. The team also brought in defensive staple Chris Harris, who is likely going to be playing a lot of slot corner. Out wide alongside Hayward is going to be a mixture of Michael Davis and Brandon Facyson.
There are two things I do not love about the secondary that I think will bring it slightly down to earth. First, both Hayward and Harris are on the wrong side of 30 and we have seen it so many times before in the league — cornerbacks can regress so fast. It does not mean they will, but the chances certainly are higher than before.
This is more true of Harris, who is coming off arguably the worst season of his career. He was still solid, but not the Chris Harris of before.
The other concern is the depth between Davis and Facyson. I personally am higher on Davis than most but there are still a lot of questions about if that area of the secondary can hold up and the Chargers run the risk of that being exposed often.
Sure, the team had the sixth-fewest passing yards allowed last season but really struggled on third downs and those matchups against the CB2 often killed the Bolts. A great example of this is in Week 1 against the Colts, where T.Y. Hilton was just punishing Brandon Facyson.