After last year's draft and UDFA signings, the Chargers:
- Signed WR Chark (5/6)
- Signed Edge Dupree (5/13)
- Signed OL Leatherwood (5/29)
- Signed S Jefferson (6/14)
- Signed IDL Tart (8/16)
- Claimed RB Haskins off waivers (8/28)
- Traded for S Molden (8/29)
- Traded for QB Heinicke (8/29)
All but Leatherwood and Jefferson made the final 53 man roster, and Jefferson obviously stuck with the team. So chances are that there will be more moves to come, which makes it difficult to project the final roster.
But here is a look at what it might look like:
- Offense (26)
- QB (3) - Herbert, Heinicke, Lance
- Would prefer to see them go with two but can't see Lance as QB2... the Chargers gave Lance $1.5M guaranteed, which suggests he will make the final roster
- RB (3) - Harris, Hampton (R), Haskins
- Vidal is odd man out since he does not play special teams
- Will they really go with just 3 RBs? If they keep a 4th, have to cut somewhere else
- FB (1) - Matlock
- WR (6) - McConkey, Williams, Harris (R), Johnston, Lambert-Smith (R), Davis
- Don't see carrying 7 WRs with this group, especially since Gadsden plays a lot like a big WR
- Would love to cut Davis, since he looks even further away from getting any meaningful snaps or role other than returning kickoffs and punts than it appeared last year at this time... does anyone else on the roster have return experience?
- Don't see Rice beating out Lambert-Smith... he and/or Reagor could make the practice squad
- TE (4) - Dissly, Conklin, Gadsden (R), Fisk
- OL (9) - LT Slater, LG Johnson, C Bozeman, RG Becton, RT Alt, C/G James, G/T Salyer, G/T (swing tackle) Pipkins, G/T Taylor (R)
- Defense (24)
- Edge (4) - Mack, Tuipulotu, Kennard (R), Dupree
- IDL (5) - Caldwell (R), Tart, Hand, Jones, Eboigbe
- I'm showing here that Ogbonnia, who is the only player in this group held over from the Telesco/Staley regime, won't make it... tough call
- Matlock may also contribute here... that versatility makes it easier to release Ogbonnia
- LB (5) - Henley, Colson, Perryman, Dye, Phillips
- CB (6) - Jackson, Hart, Still, Leonard, St. Juste, Taylor
- I could see Taylor not making it but I think they will carry 6 CBs and I'm not sure if any of the other CBs currently on the 90 man roster or rookie Bridges can beat him out... maybe a good area to target with a veteran free agent signing... or could the team go with 5 CBs and 5 safeties and keep Jefferson over Taylor?
- S (4) - James, Gilman, Molden, Mickens (R)
- I'm thinking Mickens is a long term player for the team, so thinking he beats out Jefferson
- Special Teams (3)
- PK (1) - Dicker
- P (1) - Scott
- LS (1) - Harris
I didn't show any UDFAs making it here. I don't know enough about them yet to know if any have a realistic chance. If any one of them was to make it, someone I listed has to be removed. It's a tight numbers game.
If the Chargers needed 2025 cap space, I might identify a couple possible cap casualties, but they don't appear as if they are going to spend close to what they already have available.
The offense should be quite a bit better, which is a good thing, since it appears to me that the defense will be worse.
Thoughts?
