The LA Chargers have a lot of talented players on the roster.
Pro Football Focus provides valuable insight and a rating system that rates every offensive and defensive player in the league to act as a great scale of comparison of talent.
The LA Chargers have several players who have received some pretty favorable grades in the recent past. Using those recent grades, as well as projections for the 2020 season, we decided to rank the Chargers’ top 25 players in 2020 based on our projections for their PFF grade.
We have given a range of 2-3 numbers for each player that we realistically think they could fall in.
25. WR K.J. Hill, 60-63
K.J. Hill was viewed as the Chargers’ steal of the draft as he was a projected fourth-rounder that was selected in the seventh round. Hill was viewed as a perfect fit at the time since he was a dedicated slot receiver at Ohio State and that is what the Chargers needed.
With so many other targets on the offense, Hill will have a solid rookie season that he can build on in the future.
24. DE/OLB Uchenna Nwosu, 63-65
Uchenna Nwosu is the third-best pass-rusher on the LA Charger and is probably going to take over for Melvin Ingram after this season. Nwosu has been solid in the opportunities that he has been granted and that is going to lead to a decent PFF grade in the low-to-mid 60s. That is exactly where he fell last year with a 64.8 grade.
23. WR Joe Reed, 65-67
Joe Reed was selected in the fifth round by the LA Chargers and while Hill is a much more natural fit in the passing game, Reed has legitimate gadget play and special teams potential that is going to make him a more valuable asset to the LA Chargers in year one.
22. LB Kyzir White, 66-68
Kyzir White has not been as great as Charger fans were touting him up to be but he has still been a solid rotational coverage linebacker that is more than serviceable in his role. I think White is one of the most “for sure” things on the roster, as we kind of know what the Chargers will get out of him. That is a PFF rating from 66-68, which is what he had last year (66.6).
LA Chargers top 25 players, number 21-19:
21. C Mike Pouncey, 68-69
Mike Pouncey had a really bad grade on PFF last season as he only played 305 snaps because of injury. Pouncey clocked in at a 58.2 rating, which is undoubtedly going to be improved upon with health no longer being an issue.
However, I do think that the days of Pouncey being a legitimate above-average center at the end of the year. He will bounce back with a solid year that will be good enough to keep the starting job, but will be nothing special.
20. S Nasir Adderley, 69-70
Nasir Adderley is going to share time with Rayshawn Jenkins at the second safety position when both players are healthy. I really like Adderley as a full-time safety and a ball-hawking threat but I do think we are one year away from seeing the best version of him after battling injuries in his rookie year.
Adderley had a really bad 42.6 grade in his limited time last year and I think he will start to build on that this year.
19. RB Justin Jackson, 70-71
Justin Jackson had a PFF grade of 84.4 last season, so this might seem like a massive drop. However, the sample size is really small and that will begin to even out as he becomes more of a feature in the offense.
Jackson has always shown a lot of potential but the problem has been keeping him on the field. I think he stays healthy in 2020 and is tangible as Austin Ekeler’s backup.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 18-16:
18. S Rayshawn Jenkins, 70-71
Rayshawn Jenkins is going to have a slightly better season than Adderly in the split role because of the experience that he built last year and the familiarity that he has in this defense. Jenkins showed some really good signs and has legitimate breakout potential.
Jenkins posted a 63.1 grade last year and he is going to build on that with a grade in the low 70s.
17. OT Trey Pipkins, 70-72
I like Trey Pipkins a lot more than most Charger fans do and the team seems to as well as they have not added a left tackle despite having the opportunity to with Jason Peters on the market.
Pipkins was a third-round developmental pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and while he was thrown to the wolves and made some mistakes last season, he picked up really valuable playing time that will help him grow as a player.
Pipkins posted a 63.3 grade even with his mistakes, so him being here in the rankings is fitting.
16. G Trai Turner, 71-73
Yep, I have the new trade acquisition that everyone is getting excited about, Trai Turner, just narrowly ahead of Pipkins, who is being dismissed by Charger fans. While it is easy to get excited about Turner’s four Pro Bowls, the numbers are a bit concerning and I do not think he is going to be this massive game-changer that some expect.
I think he will be a good, serviceable guard, but I do not expect anything all that special. Turner only had a 63.9 grade last season and allowed six sacks in 888 snaps. I think with James Campen coaching him he will be better, but still not exceptional.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 15-13:
15. WR Mike Williams, 72-74
Mike Williams posted a 74.1 grade for the Chargers last season and I think we will see more of the same out of him in 2020. I think that his numbers overall will go down as the deep targets are naturally going to go down with Philip Rivers but he still will be efficient when called on.
So really, in Williams I would expect a year in which he still is capable of making the big, game-changing plays; it is just that we will see less of them this year and that will impact his receiving yards.
14. CB Desmond King, 74-75
I am not in the group of fans that think Desmond King is going to have this tremendous bounce-back year in 2020. King was great in 2018 and was even pretty good in 2017 as well, but with his place in the defense, I do not see him returning to his form from 2018.
Don’t get me wrong, he will still be a solid player, hence the grade, and he will improve from the 70.9 that he posted last season. I just am not expecting this insane King year that some are.
13. CB Chris Harris, 75-76
I have been really critical of Chris Harris and have beaten the drum of not overrating him because of his past. I do believe that is fair as he posted the lowest grade (69.9) last season since his first two years in the league.
However, in the Chargers’ system that allows so much flexibility and is going to allow Harris to play more slot corner, which is where he thrives, we will see his grade rise. He still will not be the elite guy he once was but will be solid nonetheless.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 12-10:
12. DT Linval Joseph, 76-77
Linval Joseph is kind of an underrated signing this offseason as he is going to give the team much-needed depth at defensive tackle and is going to be a big part in the LA Chargers’ attempts to be more efficient against the run.
While I have also been wary in expecting greatness out of Joseph because of his age, I really think he is going to be good in the situations he is put in alongside the edge rushers that the Chargers have on the roster. Thus, we will see a jump from 71.2 to the mid-to-high 70s, which would be his highest grade since 2017.
11. LB Kenneth Murray, 76-78
I really like Kenneth Murray. The team has needed that run-stuffing thumper that can just burst into the running lanes on the line and stop two-yard gains from being six-yard gains. It has been what has killed the Chargers so much in the past.
He does have his concerns in pass coverage but he will not be put in many spots that he will fail in, by the design of the coaching staff. He is dynamic and uber-athletic, which is going to play really nicely in this Chargers defense.
10. TE Hunter Henry, 77-79
Henry has gotten a grade as high as 87.2 in his career and received a grade of 73.2 last season. In 2020, we will see a number that falls right in the middle of that. I do not think he is going to be all-that more productive as the targets are naturally going to go down, but he is going to be playing better in a contract year on the franchise tag.
This might seem low for Henry but that is going to be the impact of having a more run-heavy offense.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 9-7:
9. DE Melvin Ingram, 79-80
Melvin Ingram is getting old and while being in the last year of a contract typically motivates guys, that is not going to be the case for Ingram. He is still going to be a great player, but he is not going to have the high 80s seasons that he has had before.
In fact, this projection is an improvement for Ingram, who posted a 74.7 grade last season. I think that will be a byproduct of the Chargers naturally being a better team that is actually in the playoff picture with more to play for on defense.
8. LB Drue Tranquill, 79-81
Drue Tranquill has been the talk of the offseason as many view him as a breakout candidate in 2020 and he absolutely has all of the tools to do so. Tranquill showed some really promising signs last season and he is going to build on that in 2020.
Tranquill posted a 66.6 grade last season that is going to shoot up a lot in the 2020 season. I still think he is far away from being an elite linebacker, but he is going to make his name throughout the league as a linebacker that you cannot ignore.
7. QB Tyrod Taylor, 79-81
Those that read my articles know that I am not the biggest Tyrod Taylor fan but I have to give credit where credit is due: the guy is consistent. He is not a bad quarterback in the slightest, it is just hard for me to get excited over someone who has been a lifetime .500 quarterback.
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Taylor posted exactly and 80 grade in the last season that he was a starter and I think that is what we are going to get out of him this year. We have no reason to think otherwise, as he has been consistent his entire career.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 6-4:
6. OT Bryan Bulaga, 80-82
Bryan Bulaga is going to be the best signing that the LA Chargers made this offseason, as least in terms of the PFF grade in year one. Bulaga is reunited with his long-time offensive line coach in Campen and we are going to see Bulaga bee slightly better in his first year in LA.
Bulaga has consistently been in the mid-70s throughout his career when he is healthy but I am really optimistic with the coaching of Campen and the unique blocking schemes that the team will run in this new-look offense that he will be able to post his best grade since 2011.
5. RB Austin Ekeler, 83-85
Ekeler posted and 85.2 grade last season and an 84.6 grade the year before and I think we are going to see the exact same thing out of Ekeler in 2020. I do think that his grade will take a hit some as he won’t be used as much in the passing game but his usage in the running game more will balance it out.
This is a boring (and rather safe) prediction, but Ekeler is one of those players that I feel like I know exactly what the LA Chargers are going to get out of him.
4. WR Keenan Allen, 85-86
Keenan Allen consistently lived in the high 80s in regards to his PFF grade up until last season, where he only posted an 80.3 grade despite putting up big numbers.
I think Allen is going to be Taylor’s main outlet in the passing game as he constantly is going to be open for easy throws because of his elusiveness and elite route running. Allen’s grade will bounce back up, but not all the way to his prime level because of the impact on the passing game.
LA Chargers top 25 players, numbers 3-1:
3. CB Casey Hayward, 86-87
Casey Hayward has quietly been one of the best and most consistent cornerbacks in all of football and has not received the widespread love that he deserves. This prediction actually has Hayward jumping up a bit from an 83 grade in 2019, but there are reasons behind that.
The primary reason is that Hayward is going to have more help in the secondary that is going to have an overall impact on the defense, especially in zone schemes. Having Derwin James back and healthy as well as a solid tandem of Adderley and Jenkins will be huge. Adding Chris Harris is big as well.
I think this will be Hayward’s last great prime year and it will be a really good one.
2. DE Joey Bosa, 90-92
Joey Bosa has had several good seasons where he was in the high 80s but has never reached the 90s on PFF. However, his injured season is the only season in which his grade fell below an 85, showing just how good and consistent Bosa is.
This is going to be a great year for Bosa as he is in a contract year and is going to be looking to earn every penny of that new contract. I expect the best year of Bosa’s career thus far that stil will not be good enough for the number one spot on this list.
1. S Derwin James, 92-94
This is a big jump as even in his better rookie season James only posted an 88.3 grade but I really do think that he is going to be the best player on the LA Chargers in 2020. His versatility in this defense with even more versatile weapons is going to be lethal.
James has all the makings to be the best safety in the league and should be the early favorite to be the best safety of the 2020 decade when it is all said and done.
Some might be overlooking him because of his injury luck in 2019 but he is going to take that next step in 2020 to cement his status as one of the three best safeties in the league, without question.