LA Chargers: Ranking the linebacker rooms in the AFC West
By Jason Reed
LA Chargers training camp is underway and in preparation for the upcoming 2021 season, we here at Bolt Beat have been ranking the Chargers against their AFC West foes at every position.
Thus far, we have knocked out the entire offensive side of the ball and started the defensive side of the ball with the safety position. Today, we move closer to the quarterback and rank the AFC West linebacker units.
These rankings are a mix of existing talent as well as projections for the 2021 season. Also, we are not including outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense. Those will be included in our edge rusher rankings. So where exactly do the LA Chargers stand?
Ranking the linebacker rooms in the AFC West:
4. Kansas City Chiefs:
Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, Ben Niemann, Omari Cobb, Dorian O'Daniel
The Kansas City Chiefs' linebacker room smells of mediocrity. While it is not one of the worst linebacker rooms in the league, it certainly is below league average. There is not one player who stands out and the depth is not the greatest, either.
Anthony Hitchens is the best linebacker that the Chiefs have and he is an experienced veteran who could start to regress. Even if he doesn't, it is not like Hitchens is some elite inside linebacker. He is serviceable, thats it.
Willie Gay and Nick Bolton are both fine, they are not terrible, but they are not all that exciting. Unless someone really steps up and is a massive surprise, there is not a player in the linebacker room that is going to stand out as the guy that opposing offenses should worry about.
The Kansas City Chiefs check-in last when it comes to the linebackers, making it the first last-place ranking for the Chiefs in this series.