LA Chargers: 3 bubble players that can lock down a roster spot against the Seahawks
By Tyler Gallagher
Cortez Broughton, Defensive Tackle
The interior of the defensive line has had an intense competition this offseason. With Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones, and Christian Covington locked into spots, there are one to two remaining spots left.
Cortez Broughton has been among a large group of interior defensive linemen that are putting in work and putting up stats this preseason. Along with Broughton, Breiden Fehoko, Forrest Merrill, and Willie Yarbary are also competing for a spot.
However, recent performances and play time have demonstrated that Broughton has set himself apart in that group, and he is one more good performance away from locking down his roster spot.
In the second week of the preseason, Cortez Broughton showed how he has evolved over the offseason into a disruptive and very smart interior player.
Broughton had multiple run stuffs and a near sack in the game against the 49ers starting offense. However, he has also shown through multiple smart plays that he is looking to make big impact plays.
For starters, when he made the near sack (which became a sack after the rest of the swarming Chargers defense arrived) against Trey Lance, he went for and nearly got the strip on the play. Earlier in another series, Broughton snuffed out a planned screen, leading to a near sack by Kyler Fackrell on the indecisive Jimmy Garoppolo.
Kyler Fackrell gets the pressure and hit, but watch Cortez Broughton snuff this screen out. Such a smart play that makes Jimmy G pause for just long enough to allow Fackrell the time he needs to hit home. pic.twitter.com/R770IHImnj
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) August 24, 2021
This offseason, Cortez Broughton has consistently performed well and shown to be one of the most well-rounded defensive linemen in the Chargers interior group. He has made himself into a valuable rotational piece who is smart and unlikely to be costly to the defense while having the chance to make a disruptive play.
With another good performance, Broughton should lay claim to the fifth, and possibly last, interior defensive lineman spot on the Chargers 53-man roster.
Next. Chargers who impressed the most against 49ers . dark
Who else do you think could wrap up a roster spot with a good performance against the Seattle Seahawks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!