We don't need to spend a ton of time here dissecting the Los Angeles Chargers' start to the season. They're now 0-5, and it feels like they're a long way off from being able to rectify that record. Perhaps they'll be able to grind out some wins when the schedule eases up after Week 10, but by then it will be far too late for this team to be truly competitive—even in a generous sense of the word.
For now, the Chargers need to be focused on maximizing this roster for next season. That includes retrieving whatever draft capital they can for pieces like Khalil Mack and perhaps even Donte Jackson. But it also includes monitoring the development of the rookies.
As disappointing as Los Angeles' depth has been to this point in the season, there are multiple pieces in this class who stand a chance to be cornerstones of this roster moving forward. An injury-riddled Week 5 likely wasn't the best showcase of their talents, but it's worth keeping tabs on their progress nonetheless.
Revisiting the Chargers' rookie class as the team slips to an abysmal 0-5 start to the season
Akheem Mesidor, OLB
If there was one standout player on either side of the ball against Denver, it had to be Mesidor. He's already proved himself to this point in the season as a worthy complement to Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack in the pass rush, but he made a major impact in the game on Sunday, posting three pressures, one sack, and seven total tackles over the course of the matchup.
He continues to improve on a week-to-week basis in terms of his understanding of his role within the defense and his ability to leverage his speed and power against opposing protection schemes. It's still unclear if there's 'star' potential there for Mesidor, but this was certainly a worthy use of a first-round pick.
Verdict: Stock Up
Jake Slaughter, C
Slaughter's rookie season hasn't at all been conducive to him finding any sort of consistency, and that's showed in his production. He spent much of the offseason and training camp working out, at least partially, at left guard before he was moved to center with the injury to Tyler Biadasz. Over the first five weeks of the season, he's been paired with four different left guards.
The Denver matchup was perhaps his worst performance of the season—he allowed two pressures and one sack to a formidable Broncos interior D-line—so his stock is down for now. But there have been enough flashes here to believe that, when the line is whole again, Slaughter's numbers will start to improve.
Verdict: Stock Down
Brenen Thompson, WR
There's not much to say here about Thompson considering the fact he hasn't played a snap since Week 2 as he continues to deal with a quadriceps injury. It seemed as though he may have been close to a return this week, but he was ultimately ruled out of the matchup.
He will have a role to play when he returns, especially given the Chargers' desperate need for players who can gain separation in the intermediate parts of the field. But it's hard to tell just how much of a target share will be available for the speedy rookie as the offense continues to struggle.
Verdict: Hold Steady
Travis Burke, OT
Burke got his first start of his NFL career after slotting in at right tackle last week in the absence of Joe Alt, taking on left tackle duties this time around against Denver. Burke had an encouraging preseason, and it seemed as though Los Angeles had full confidence in him to step into the starting lineup if he was needed at any point during this campaign.
But Burke is still a relatively raw prospect, and his lingering flaws were put on full display on Sunday. The Broncos' pass rushers were able to work their way to the outside of his large frame, and both of the pressures he let up came around the backside of Justin Herbert on long, looping pass-rush paths.
It's not surprising that Burke still has work to do in terms of his agility and ability to recover against quicker pass rushers, but it's clear he's not a true immediate starting option for this offense while Alt and Slater are out—even if he'll almost certainly be thrust in that position.
Verdict: Stock Down
Genesis Smith, S
Smith had a bit of a weird coverage rep on the passing touchdown to Courtland Sutton late in the game on Sunday—where he essentially let Sutton run past into the end zone with no one behind him to cover the route. It's unclear what the call was there, or if the blame for that play lies squarely on Smith.
But this was Smith's least impactful game of the season, and it came when the Chargers were in desperate need of viable secondary play with Derwin James Jr. out. Smith has shown plenty of flashes this season, so this is likely only a temporary downward turn in his trajectory.
Verdict: Stock Down
Nick Barrett, DT
Barrett's snap share held steady in this one, and he continues to be a viable rotational contributor for this Chargers interior. He posted one tackle on 12 run-defending reps, although he did see a decrease in his pass rush opportunities this week.
Barrett's ceiling is likely limited this year by the players Los Angeles has in front of him on the depth chart, so don't be discouraged by an unproductive performance from the fifth-round pick.
Verdict: Hold Steady
Logan Taylor, OT/G
There's a reason I'm not grouping Taylor and Harkey together on this one—both players actually started against the Broncos. Taylor took on left guard duties with Kayode Awosika, Trey Pipkins III, and Trevor Penning out, and he may very well need to do so again next week unless the Chargers want to slide Jacob Spomer into the starting lineup and move Slaughter over to LG.
It's certainly not an ideal scenario that Los Angeles is starting both of their sixth-round selections in Week 5, and Taylor's lack of experience and less-than-ideal strength for interior O-line duties showed against Denver. He allowed three pressures on 35 pass-blocking snaps, and although he showed some flashes in the run game—especially on that explosive Kimani Vidal play—it wasn't enough to truly carve out space for Los Angeles to work on the interior.
Taylor was always meant to be a depth piece, and he's playing far out of his depth right now because of Los Angeles' injuries.
Verdict: Stock Down
Alex Harkey, OT
Given the situation Harkey was thrust into, he actually performed relatively well against the Broncos' pass rush. Tackle is a more natural position for him, but taking on tackle duties in an NFL offense as a rookie is never an easy task.
Starting at right tackle for the Chargers on Sunday, Harkey allowed two pressures and one sack on 35 pass-blocking snaps, but there weren't a massive number of reps where it felt, at least on the surface, like Harkey outright lost against his assignment. Maybe things get re-shuffled next week to remove Harkey from the lineup, but I was at least pleasantly surprised with how he handled himself in Week 5.
Verdict: Hold Steady
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