The LA Chargers are currently fighting for their spot in the AFC playoff picture and have arguably the most important game of the season thus far against the Cincinnati Bengals coming up in Week 13. While the team focus is on the playoffs, the fans can focus on making sure certain players get their proper due.
The best way the fans can do that is by voting for certain Chargers to make the Pro Bowl. The Chargers have a great online fanbase presence that is trying to send a myriad of Chargers to the Pro Bowl. Not every good player on the Bolts deserves to be a Pro Bowler, though.
The LA Chargers who actually deserve a Pro Bowl nod in 2021:
QB Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert has had some ugly games this season but all-in-all he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league. It is hard to find three AFC quarterbacks who would deserve the Pro Bowl nod in front of him with how he is playing this season.
As of right now, the three AFC quarterbacks who probably deserve a trip to the Pro Bowl the most are Herbert, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Lamar Jackson will always be in that conversation although he is not playing well and Joe Burrow will be in the mix as well.
However, at the end of the day, those are the three favorites for the quarterback position and it is impossible to make a case for another quarterback outside of that top three over Herbert, even if he has had an ugly game or two this season (what quarterback doesn't have bad games?).
Next, let's dive into the offensive weapons that deserve a Pro Bowl nod.
LA Chargers offensive weapons that deserve a Pro Bowl nod in 2021:
RB Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler has been able to stay healthy this season (knocks on wood) and is proving that he is one of the best all-around running backs in the entire league. While he might not rack up the rushing yards like Derrick Henry or Jonathan Taylor, he is the best dual-threat back in the league right now, especially with Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara hurt.
Ekeler has been the motor to drive the Chargers' offense at times and the team really should look to get him involved more. Every game that the Chargers have won Ekeler has played a big role in and he absolutely should be one of the AFC running backs that gets a Pro Bowl nod.
WR Keenan Allen
Keenan Allen had a slow start to the 2021 season that included some drops but since then he has looked like the Keenan Allen of old and has been Justin Herbert's main target. At the time of writing this, Allen ranks seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (third in the AFC) and third in receptions (second in AFC). Allen hasn't found the endzone much with only two touchdowns but he is still Pro Bowl-worthy regardless.
You probably noticed that Mike Williams is not on this list and unless he finishes the season like how he started he will not get his second Pro Bowl nod. Williams is on pace for a great year but is not one of the best receivers in the league. While he does have seven touchdowns, he ranks 19th in total receiving yards.
Next, let's dive into the Chargers offensive linemen who deserve a Pro Bowl nod.
LA Chargers offensive linemen who deserve a Pro Bowl nod in 2021:
LT Rashawn Slater
Rashawn Slater has been a godsend for the LA Chargers this season. Slater somehow fell to the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and he has somehow been better than advertised. While we all knew that the Chargers likely got their franchise left tackle, what I didn't expect was for Slater to be a legit All-Pro candidate as a rookie.
Slater probably won't get First-Team All-Pro nods yet but he is certainly in that conversation and undoubtedly deserves a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie. He has been fantastic for the Chargers and has even held up quite nicely against elite pass rushers such as Chase Young and Myles Garrett.
C Corey Linsley
Who would have thought that the LA Chargers would have two Pro Bowl-worthy offensive linemen and we would still be talking about offensive line issues because of the lack of depth? Regardless, Corey Linsley has not disappointed whatsoever and has picked up right where he left off in Green Bay.
The Chargers made him the highest-paid center in NFL history and it has paid off. Having a great center is such an important thing with a young quarterback and the Bolts have one of the best, if not the best, in the game.
Matt Feiler has been good this season but I would not say he is a Pro Bowler. While some Charger fans would probably disagree, there is a lot of good guard talent in the league and just because Feiler has been above-average does not mean he is a Pro Bowler.
Next, let's dive into the defensive players who deserve a Pro Bowl nod.
LA Chargers defensive players who deserve a Pro Bowl nod in 2021:
S Derwin James
This is the first time that we have seen Derwin James as a full-time member of the defense since 2018 and it has been a pleasure to watch. James has reminded everyone that he is one of the best safeties in the league, contributing in just about every area for the LA Chargers.
James will be in the conversation for All-Pro nods at the safety position and there is no doubt that he is a Pro Bowler this season. While the Chargers defense has been horrible this season, James has not been.
LB Kyzir White
Kyzir White has had a breakout season for the LA Chargers and absolutely deserves to be recognized for his strong play at the linebacker position. That being said, this is the only player on this list that I think won't get the mainstream recognition that he deserves.
White does not have as great of counting stats and has not been a highlight-reel machine to capture the casual NFL audience. While Charger fans have seen his growth this season into a Pro Bowl-worthy player, he feels like the one player who will be snubbed the most.
EDGE Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa's sack numbers are not as high as you would expect but his pressure numbers indicate that he is still playing really good football. According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa has 50 pressures on the quarterback this season, putting him tied for seventh in pressures among edge rushers.
The only thing that might keep Bosa out of the Pro Bowl is the fact that all the best edge rushers are playing in the AFC. While he is undoubtedly having a Pro Bowl-worthy season, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Matthew Judon have all been better.
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You might be surprised to not see a few Chargers on the defensive side of the ball. Both Nasir Adderley and Linval Joseph have been good this season but they are not Pro Bowl worthy. As fans we typically get a bit biased and just because someone is above average does not mean they are Pro Bowlers.