After the Chargers' failed J.C. Jackson experiment and the offseason departure of Michael Davis, the cornerback room looks to rebound from what was a tumultuous 2023.
Asante Samuel Jr. and Ja'Sir Taylor look to return to their starting roles in spite of some competition. Meanwhile, new Charger Kristian Fulton looks to finally have his breakout season after a change of scenery following his Tennessee tenure.
Projecting Chargers cornerback depth chart:
CB1: Asante Samuel Jr.
The 2023 season was a tale of two halves for Samuel Jr. Through the teams' first six games, Samuel was on track to have the lowest missed tackle rate of his career. He was a top 15 corner in the league in various statistical measures, including PFF defensive, man coverage, and coverage grades.
Generally, his coverage numbers didn't dip too much in the second half of the season. However, where Samuel lost his focus was as a run defender and tackler. He'd go on to finish the season with a 17.9% missed tackle rate while having the fewest run stops of his career (10). Samuel had six games with a 25% or higher missed tackle rate in 2023.
The goal for Samuel in 2024 is to find the middle ground between his coverage performance and his run support. Given Samuel's frame and arm size, he's probably never going to be an elite tackler. But there was a stretch last year where he showed some bonafide improvements prior to the Chargers' run defense wheels falling off.
It's a contract year for Samuel, the team's second-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. If he wants to carve out a role (in addition to getting a new contract) with the new regime, he has to be more consistent from game to game in Jesse Minter's scheme.
CB2: Kristian Fulton
Kristian Fulton arrives via free agency after a turbulent time in Tennessee. Once considered a top corner prospect in 2020, Fulton's career has been defined by injuries preventing him from reaching his full potential.
Fulton showed flashes in his first three seasons, but his 2023 performance was truly grim. He had a 20.4% missed tackle rate, six penalties in coverage, and allowed a 129.3 passer rating. Those figures represent his worst single-season showings in each respective category.
In his introductory media availability, Fulton said he was looking for a "fresh start" with the Chargers. In the same presser, the former LSU star said he felt comfortable with the defensive scheme that Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter were going to employ. Hopefully, Fulton can get back to playing some more consistent, fundamental football in a new system.
Slot corner/CB3: Ja'Sir Taylor
Given that he had the slot corner role last season, Ja'Sir Taylor is in the early lead to keep his starting job this year. Along with the rest of the secondary, Taylor struggled in run support last season. He placed 155th of 162 eligible corners in PFF tackling grade with a 29.9. His coverage was hit or miss, although his slot corner role varied from week to week depending on Brandon Staley's usage with Derwin James.
Despite the flaws of the defense around him, Taylor never really put an authoritative stamp on being a full-time starter with his own performance. It'll lead to questions entering 2024's training camp period. The Athletic's Daniel Popper already has rookie nickel corner Tarheeb Still potentially challenging for Taylor's starting spot after showing some early flashes this offseason.
Competing for playing time: Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still, Deane Leonard
It's worth noting the presence of Deane Leonard in the cornerback room. Leonard showed some flashes in limited action towards the end of last season. While still a work in progress fundamentally, there's a place for his size in a cornerback room that generally lacks it.
As mentioned earlier, Tarheeb Still has a potential path to playing time out of the slot. If Taylor doesn't come out and lock down the nickel spot in camp, the Chargers' coaching staff may very well opt for an instinctual defender that they drafted instead. Like many spots throughout the roster, the margin for error is thinner for some of Tom Telesco's holdovers.
Cam Hart was one of the most pro-ready cornerbacks in the NFL Draft as he enters his age-24 season. After a career year in college, he could get a look at an outside corner spot if Fulton is injured or falters.
Potential end-of-roster/practice squad players: Robert Kennedy, Matt Hankins, Chris Wilcox, Zamari Walton
Chris Wilcox and Matt Hankins return after signing reserve contracts following last season. Both probably compete for practice squad spots or some reserve special teams roles.
At 6'3", Zamari Walton gives the Chargers' DB room some more length. Robert Kennedy's nickel corner experience can at least shore up the room at training camp.