The Los Angeles Chargers' 2024 draft class was one of the strongest for the franchise in recent memory.
Eight of the nine draft picks found time on the field, with six of them playing in 10 or more games. Everyone knows about the top picks in offensive lineman Joe Alt and wide receiver Ladd McConkey and the impact they made in their rookie seasons.
Their secondary got some significant contributions from fifth-round picks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. The pair has given the Chargers their future in the secondary and made it easier for the team not to bring back Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, and Eli Apple.
Entering 2025, second-year players like Alt and McConkey will not be able to fly under the radar as they did last year. One of their fifth-round picks, though? He could be, but he shouldn't.
Still poised for stronger second season
CBS Sports writer Tyler Sullivan picked one player from each AFC team who is a potential under-the-radar star. Still was listed as the number one corner in the secondary after the lack of moves made during the offseason.
"Los Angeles' secondary was silently overhauled this offseason. The club let Kristian Fulton leave in free agency and hasn't been in a rush to re-sign Asante Samuel Jr., who remains on the free agent market. While the Chargers did sign Donte Jackson to a two-year, $13 million contract, their willingness to let those players go may also indicate they are comfortable with the likes of Still ascending into a bigger role in the secondary. Still was a fifth-round pick out of Maryland in 2024 and was solid during his rookie season."
During his 2024 campaign, Still racked up 62 tackles, 10 pass deflections, four interceptions, one pick-six, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for loss in 14 games. He finished seventh in the voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
While Still is an under-the-radar player outside of Los Angeles, he has already shown fans that he is a star in the making. He was the team's top shutdown corner and paired well with Hart to set up what is an excellent future in the secondary.
Still helped the secondary solidify itself as one of the best units in the NFL, finishing seventh in pass defense by allowing 206.9 passing yards per game. The defense also finished first in scoring defense as they surrendered just 17.7 points per game.
With the Chargers opting to sign Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste as free-agent veterans, it leaves more pressure on Still to perform. If 2024 was any indication, that appears not to be a problem with Los Angeles, as they have something special in him.