LA Chargers: Ranking the linebacker rooms in the AFC West
By Jason Reed
2. LA Chargers:
Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Kyzir White, Emeke Egbule, Cole Christiansen, Nick Niemann
The LA Chargers are running a 3-4 defense in 2021 there are only two traditional linebackers on the field at any given time as the other linebackers will be the outside linebacker pair of Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu/Kyler Fackrell.
That does kind of help the Chargers as it takes out the possibility of there being a weak third link but quite frankly, there would not be even if the Chargers were running a 4-3 defense.
The trio of Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill and Kyzir White are going to be really good in 2021. Yes, the Raiders' group was better last season but that was with Murray being a rookie, Tranquill being hurt and White not being utilized properly by Gus Bradley.
Oh yeah, Bradley is now the defensive coordinator of the Raiders, so we will see how he utilizes those linebackers.
Murray has shown all the signs of being a Pro Bowl-caliber inside linebacker in this league and it would not be shocking at all if he makes that jump in year two. He got better every single week last season and with Brandon Staley coaching him up, we have to like his chances.
Tranquill has been a breakout player two years in the making. He has all the signs of being an above-average linebacker and just has to stay healthy and prove it.
However, he is competing for snaps with Kyzir White, who has been one of the biggest winners of LA Chargers training camp thus far. White's versatility and ability in pass coverage as a former safety is huge for the Chargers and Staley has to be salivating thinking about what he can do with him.
The depth behind those three is no better or worse than the other teams in the division but the main three are all primed for great seasons in 2021.