1. Uchenna Nwosu
Uchenna Nwosu is a free agent after the 2021 season and he isn’t just playing for a new contract this season, he is doing so while getting a much bigger role than he has had thus far in his career.
To this point, Nwosu has been a rotational pass rusher that has shown flashes here and there but has not locked down a long-term starting spot. With the team transitioning to a 3-4 defense (which fits Nwosu’s profile more) and Melvin Ingram leaving town, the former USC Trojan is going to have a lot on his plate and a chance to prove his worth.
Nwosu very well may benefit from Brandon Staley taking over as the head coach as he will put him in positions to succeed and like every outside edge rusher that Staley has worked with in the past, Nwosu may play the best football of his career in 2021.
That is not a guarantee, though, and I fall on the not-so-popular side of Charger fans that wants to see Nwosu prove it before I fully buy into the hype. I get that he has potential and he absolutely does have what it takes to be successful, but I have to see it in a full-time capacity first.
Nwosu has not played more than 37% of the defensive snaps in a season in his career. Jumping up to 80%+ is a big deal and he is going to have to prove that he can handle that jump in 2021 if he wants starter money moving forward.