The biggest winners of the first week of LA Chargers training camp
By Jason Reed
3. Mark Webb
Speaking of one seventh-round defensive back drafted by Brandon Staley, we might as well dive into Mark Webb as well. Webb was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft and he did not make much of an impact on the Chargers in year one.
Webb didn't get that much playing time as a developmental player but the traits were always there. Webb is an athletic safety who showcased great ball skills and coverage ability at the collegiate level. There were some areas of his game to iron out, but as a seventh-round pick, there was a lot to get excited about.
Now that he is fully healthy, Webb is showing up to Chargers camp and is making people turn heads and question why he was a seventh-round pick. While Webb needs to add more of a physical dynamic to his game, it is not hard to see why the Chargers, and Brandon Staley particularly, liked him as a prospect.
#Chargers Brandon Staley on second year safety Mark Webb: “He’s got a lot of versatility to play safety, STAR, and MONEY. We’re really excited about his progress. He’s got outstanding skills in the passing game but he needs to prove himself as a tackler.”
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) July 29, 2022
While tackling is obviously an essential function of being an NFL player, Webb's coverage abilities and his versatility on defense are going to lead to him getting snaps. Staley lives and breathes for versatile players that he can move around the secondary on passing downs and Webb gives him just that.
After securing some first-team looks on defense in the first week (albeit with Derwin James still not participating as he works out his new contract), it appears that Webb is in for a much bigger role in 2022.