4 notable Chargers who are entering contract years in 2022

3. Drue Tranquill

Drue Tranquill has had a very interesting career thus far with the LA Chargers. Tranquill turned in a really promising rookie season in 2019 in which he played at a really high level on the special teams side of the football. Tranquill was many people's choice for the breakout player of the year on the Chargers in 2020 as a result.

Tranquill never got to have that breakout season as he quickly suffered a broken ankle in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tranquill would miss the entire 2020 season, returning in 2021 in a new-look defense led by Brandon Staley.

There was still some excitement around what Tranquill could bring defensively and while he was fine, he was not anything overly special. Tranquill is not a bad football player but he certainly has not lived up to the high expectations that were slapped on him after his rookie season.

The 2022 season is an interesting one for Tranquill as he should have a starting job locked in. However, Brandon Staley does not value linebackers much in his defense and with Kenneth Murray and the versatile Derwin James (as well as Troy Reeder), Tranquill may not get as big of a role as he is potentially hoping for.

The Chargers let Kyzir White walk for a measly $3 million this offseason so it seems likely that Tranquill is entering his last season with the Chargers looking to earn a new deal with another team next spring.