The LA Chargers gave fans a taste of what is to come in 2024 with OTAs and minicamp. With both now complete, the Chargers head into summer break while fans have to wait around patiently to see what this year's team is all about.
For the most part, the vibes are great around the Chargers after minicamp. There has been nothing but great vibes around the new coaching staff as the team starts a new era under Jim Harbaugh.
It isn't all great, though. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were some lowlights from OTAs and minicamp. As a result, there are several Chargers who are heading into the summer with lower stocks who cannot wait to get after it once training camp begins in late July.
Chargers whose stock fell during OTAs and minicamp:
1. Jamaree Slayer
Jim Harbaugh unveiled a surprising starting offensive line group during minicamp, stating that the fivesome of Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins and Joe Alt have separated themselves as the best group.
Harbaugh left room for this to change depending on how this group looks during training camp but this is the direction the team is taking. The Bolts are kicking Pipkins inside to replace Salyer even though he has never played guard.
While this might be a great sign for Pipkins, it is an even worse sign for Salyer. It is never great to lose your job to someone who changed positions and was not great in his original position to begin with.
2. JT Woods
There hasn't been much around JT Woods thus far in the summer and that is not a good sign. Woods, who was selected by Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco as a developmental piece, is in a make-or-break year where he is going to have to earn his keep in the league.
There are no more draft priors that will give him a roster spot. Harbaugh is going to give the best 53 players on the team a roster spot and with how he has played in his first two years, Woods may not be one of those 53.
To make matters worse, the Chargers went out and signed someone who was retired from the league last season. The Chargers signed veteran safety (and former Raven) Tony Jefferson to compete for the third safety spot on the depth chart.
If Woods was progressing well ahead of his third season in the league then the Bolts wouldn't have needed to sign Jefferson to compete for a job.
3. Kristian Fulton
There isn't as much on-field action during OTAs and minicamp as there is during training camp so it is hard to get a fully comprehensive idea of where each player stands learning a new defense. That being said, Kristian Fulton is someone who had red flags going in and he hasn't done anything to quell those concerns.
Fulton was one of the worst starting cornerbacks in the league last season and was one of just few cornerbacks with worse stats than Michael Davis. If the same Fulton shows up for the Bolts in 2024 that played in Tennessee in 2023 then it will be an issue.
All that into consideration, it is never a good sign when one of the few clips that emerged as a clip of Fulton getting burnt by practice squad receiver Simi Fehoko for a long touchdown. Good on Fehoko for making a play but Fulton has to be better than that.
One play alone is not a fair indicator of what an entire season might look like. But while Tarheeb Still thrived, Fulton struggled and that is concerning given the concerns that already existed.