3. Kenneth Murray, LB
In a traditional sense, the LA Chargers are going to have two starting inside linebackers on the field and those two will be Drue Tranquill and Kenneth Murray. However, knowing that Brandon Staley loves to empty the box in his defense, there is a good chance that the Chargers play far more looks with just one linebacker on the field than last season.
Regardless, Murray is tabbed as the starter and this is a make-or-break season for the former Oklahoma Sooner. Even though the team signed Troy Reeder, the Bolts are going to make this job Murray's to lose to begin the season. LA has invested too much into him to outright give up after two years.
There is some hope that last season can just be an anomaly and that Murray can start living up to his potential. Murray dealt with a bum ankle all of last season and just had offseason surgery for the ankle. Injuries can have a much bigger impact on how someone plays than fans realize at times.
Murray also did not really have a concrete role on the defense last season and the team tried playing him at outside linebacker, which was simply a disaster. Now, with an established role and a (hopefully) healthy season, Murray has no excuses.
Luckily for the Chargers, Staley's defense is built so it is not too reliant on having fantastic linebackers locking down the box. Murray playing better football would just be a bonus for the Bolts.