2. Stone Smartt
Stone Smartt was one of the biggest standouts of the preseason and training camp for the Chargers and it became impossible to keep him off the 53-man roster. If the Chargers would have waived him there was a decent chance that another team may have claimed him, keeping LA from signing him to the practice squad.
His solid play in the preseason came at a great time as the rest of the tight end room struggled. There are legitimate concerns about the depth of the tight end position behind Gerald Everett and Smartt at least helps address that issue.
Many fans would likely prefer to see Smartt on the active roster over Tre' McKitty but that is not typically how the Chargers operate. Smartt may eventually leapfrog McKitty (and Donald Parham) but it would be surprising to see it happen in Week 1.
The Chargers are not going to carry four tight ends on the active roster and for now, McKitty is going to get the chance to lose the job. That leaves Smartt on the outside looking in but he is definitely looming as the tight ends ahead of him have to play well.