NFL free agency is nearly upon us and unlike last year, the LA Chargers have resources to make several splashes this offseason. With a strong foundation built in 2024, the Chargers have real potential to emerge as a Super Bowl contender in 2025.
Part of that process includes self-reflection. The Chargers' front office has undoubtedly combed through the roster and has identified where the team needs to add help. As promising as the 2024 season was, this Chargers roster has several holes.
Some of those holes are caused by draft misses in recent years. As great as Joe Hortiz's first draft class was with the team, there are several players in recent years who proved they may be beyond saving, even with Jim Harbaugh.
Chargers who cemented themselves as busts in 2024:
Ja'Sir Taylor
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter got the most out of many players on defense. Ja'Sir Taylor was not one of those players.
Taylor was drafted off his raw athletic potential with the plan being Brandon Staley would develop his skillset on the Chargers. Staley couldn't do that before he was fired by the Chargers and Minter, despite all his success, was not either.
Quarterbacks noticeably picked on Taylor while he was on the field, resulting in some pretty porous coverage numbers for the young cornerback. Taylor was targeted 29 times in 2024 and allowed 21 receptions for 312 yards with five touchdowns.
He may not have an inflated salary in 2025 but the Chargers very well could cut ties with Taylor after his awful showing in 2024.
Jamaree Salyer
Calling Jamaree Salyer an outright bust is unfair as the Chargers have gotten value out of him as a late-round pick. It was not that long ago Salyer stepped up for the injured Rashawn Slater and gave the Chargers above-average play at tackle as a rookie.
That is what makes his regression the last two seasons so frustrating. Salyer excelled as a guard playing tackle with no NFL experience. Since then, Salyer has turned in below-average guard play and was not able to beat out Trey Pipkins despite Pipkins' struggles last season.
Salyer still got some playing time due to injuries and the team's right guard rotation. The third-year guard allowed 12 pressures in his 214 pass-blocking snaps for a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 96.5. There were 75 guards with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps last season; Salyer ranked 53rd.
Salyer will stick around as a depth offensive lineman but the hope of him being a starting-caliber offensive lineman is gone.
Otito Ogbonnia
Another late pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Otito Ogbonnia had a big chance to prove his value as a rotational interior defensive lineman in 2024. Despite the Chargers' overall defensive success, Ogbonnia was unable to do that.
Ogbonnia got lost in the shuffle with Teair Tart and Poona Ford both standing out. With both players likely to return in free agency, and the Chargers likely adding more defensive line depth, Ogbonnia is destined to be lost in the shuffle even more.
Ogbonnia has one more year under contract and the Chargers may simply let that play out and use him as a depth piece with no intention of re-signing him after 2025. However, if the Bolts are able to add enough to the interior defensive line then Ogbonnia could get cut before the start of the 2025 season.