Chargers 53-man roster prediction at the start of training camp
By Jason Reed
Chargers 53-man roster prediction, the defense:
EDGE: Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Kyle Van Noy, Chris Rumph (4)
You could make the case for the Chargers to have five edge rushers on the roster but with the talent of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, as well as a great, versatile presence in Kyle Van Noy, the team is probably better off using that depth elsewhere.
IDL: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Jerry Tillery, Otito Ogbonnia, Morgan Fox, Breiden Fehoko (6)
This is pretty standard stuff for how the roster is currently constructed. New signing Carlo Kemp does not earn a roster spot but would be a great practice squad addition. Most notably, Breiden Fehoko wins out the last spot over Christian Covington.
Fehoko was really good in the limited time he got last season. That, mixed with a strong camp, should earn him a roster spot.
LB: Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Troy Reeder, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga (5)
This is the thinnest position on the defensive side of the football and while a lot of fans would disagree, I would project Kenneth Murray to be the LB1. It is certainly going to be a battle but with how the NFL works, the Chargers are going to favor the guy they spent a second and third-round pick on to get.
CB: J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, Bryce Callahan, Ja'Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard (6)
The most notable exclusion from this list is Tevaughn Campbell. Campbell may have already been on the roster but he was horrible and the Chargers are better off using the roster spot for the young players they just drafted.
This does get a bit thin towards the backend, but with the addition of Callahan as well as J.T. Woods (who can play some corner and also opens things up for Derwin James to move around), it will be fine.
S: Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, J.T. Woods, Mark Webb (4)
Mark Webb may not have been great by any means last season but the Chargers are going to favor the guy who this current regime drafted over the previous regime in Alohi Gilman, who really has not offered much in his two years in the league.
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Again, this gets thin towards the backend of the depth chart but expecting the fourth safety to be elite is simply setting yourself up to fail. The Chargers have a good trio here in James, Adderley and Woods and will have to hope to remain healthy.
Total defensive players: 25