LA Chargers roster: Ranking the linebackers by 2020 impact

1. Drue Tranquill

Drue Tranquill is the young player that has been receiving so much love from fans and the media this offseason. He is a lot of people’s breakout Charger this season and it is not hard to see why. Tranquill was really solid in his rookie season and is only going to get better in year two.

Tranquill is going to be an every-down linebacker for the Chargers in 2020 and is going to make his impact felt.

Tranquill is super athletic and we saw that athleticism in display in his limited role on the defense in 2019. This season, he is going to get even more chances to build on that solid rookie season and he will still be great even if his improvement from last year is just marginal.

Tranquill posted a 66.6 grade last season on PFF, which is really good for a rookie, particularly in the fourth round. With a year under his belt and a more defined role on the defense, Tranquill is going to pick up where he left off, surpass 100 tackles, be really good in pass-coverage and be an impact player on special teams as well.

The team does not release Thomas Davis this offseason if they are not high on what Tranquill can do as an every-down starter and we are just high on that potential as the Chargers likely are.

What makes him so great and a potential All-Pro candidate is the fact that he contributes to two areas of the game. Not only will he be impactful on defense but he is the Chargers’ best special teams player. He is only going to leave the field when the offense is driving and if he just takes a moderate leap in special teams then he will be in the running to be an All-Pro.

I think Kenneth Murray supplies more flashy plays but Tranquill provides more overall impact, both because of great play on defense and in special teams as well.