There are quite a few roster battles that will be decided during Chargers training camp in 2024. The team is officially entering a new era with Jim Harbaugh captaining the ship and every player on the roster is going to have to earn their place.
One of the most intriguing roster battles does not even involve a starting position. Derwin James and Alohi Gilman make up the first two safeties on the depth chart but because of James' versatility and the various roles he will play, the third safety on the depth chart becomes very important.
Many assumed that the main competitors for this role were veteran safety Tony Jefferson, who the Chargers signed out of retirement after minicamp, and 2022 third-round pick JT Woods, who has proven next to nothing in his NFL career thus far.
There is another candidate in the fold that should be considered a threat as well: AJ Finley. It might be extremely early in the process but Finley is already getting first-team reps with the Chargers in training camp.
AJ Finley (24) getting some reps with the 1s, def someone to watch this camp https://t.co/zMvydaC2Wt
— Garrett Sisti (@GarrettSisti) July 24, 2024
AJ Finley gets first-team reps with Chargers defense in training camp
One clip of Finley playing with the first-team defense is not enough to guarantee that he will get the third safety position on the depth chart but it is enough to show that he is firmly in the hunt. This is not just a two-horse race between Jefferson and Woods.
The 2023 undrafted free agent may have a better chance than most fans realize as well. It is not like the other two candidates have a concrete case for the position, opening the door for Finley to have a bigger role than expected.
Jefferson did not play in the league last season and while his veteran insight will be welcomed, there is no guarantee that he can even still hang at NFL speed. Woods, meanwhile, has looked like one of the worst Chargers draft picks in recent history. If he is the same player he has been through two seasons then Harbaugh won't be comfortable giving him the third safety role.
Finley's spot on the 53-man roster feels guaranteed as he was very productive on Ryan Ficken's special teams unit last season. That alone will get him a roster spot so the only thing he needs to prove is that he can be a consistent, productive member of the defense.
Even with two talented safeties in James and Gilman, getting productive play out of the third safety is imperative for the Chargers. The more options for the team the better, as it will ensure that a truly productive candidate emerges.
And that candidate very well could be AJ Finley.