Chargers Final Roster Prediction Part 2: Defense

We ended last week with a pre-training camp final roster prediction for the offensive side of the ball so we’re back to begin this new week by predicting the other side.

The Chargers will likely be better on defense in 2024 than they were a season ago, but there are quite a few new names littering the roster. While maybe the talent isn’t exactly better in a vacuum, this unit should simply improve by the fact that Jesse Minter is now calling the shots.

If the next hot defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh can’t turn this group around, then I don’t know what to tell you.

Let’s go ahead and dive right in, huh?

Defensive Interior (5): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock, Justin Eboigbe

I have no real expectations for this group. It’s headlined by an undersized starter coming off an injured 2023, a pass-rush specialist, and another young player who missed most of his rookie with a torn ACL.

There’s a world where your starters end up being Ford, Ogbonnia, and Eboigbe by the end of the year. Matlock has impressed OTAs and minicamp thus far, but I don’t think he’ll have that big of a jump. Eboigbe was an underrated prospect coming out of Alabama this year and he plays the run too well to be a rotational player.

I think Fox needs to stay in his role. Things never quite looked that great when he was asked to play a three-down role at any point over the past three years.

Edge Rushers (5): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Chris Rumph

This is the strongest and deepest position group on the Chargers. After drafting Tuipulotu a year ago and signing Dupree earlier this offseason, the Chargers arguably have one of the best pass-rushing groups in the entire league. I do believe they’ll end up keeping a fifth body here and Rumph has been a special teams contributor on top of a rotational piece so he gets the nod here.

Linebackers (5): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye

Man, it’s crazy typing up Perryman’s name here again. Talk about a nostalgia bomb. The veteran has played well at his other stops and he’ll do just fine holding down the middle for the Bolts again. Colson is my expected starter opposite him due to his knowledge of the playbook and well-rounded game. He’s a Harbaugh guy at a pivotal position for the Chargers.

I really hope Henley takes a step forward in year two. It would be very convenient for the Chargers to have both linebacker spots locked down by 2025 with two young guns on team-friendly contracts. Niemann and Dye are four-core special-teamers.

Cornerbacks (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still

The cornerback room is lackluster but they have enough bodies to make sure they can find the right combination of players. Zont and Fulton are your expected starters on the outside while Taylor looks to be the starter at Nickel. Still was a standout in OTAs and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win the starting job by the end of the season. Hart has great traits and I’m excited to see how much playing time he can force out of the coaching staff. Leonard is a special-teamer who should keep that role this season.

Safeties(4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, AJ Finley

The Chargers have great starters here but I’m very worried about the depth. I don’t like anything beyond Derwin and Alohi. Finley showed to be serviceable as a rookie but Woods has still shown nothing in two seasons and I wouldn’t be blown away if the new coaching staff moves on from him.

I like Akeem Dent, the UDFA out of Florida State, but his underwhelming athleticism may hold him back from ultimately breaking onto the active roster. Thomas Harper, the other UDFA by way of Notre Dame/Old Dominion, is another name to keep an eye on. He was more productive than Dent but played at several different schools before becoming a consistent starter in college.

Special Teams (3): P JK Scott, K Cameron Dicker, LS Josh Harris

Ain’t nothing to really say here. These three make up one of the best special teams trios in the NFL. Dicker might mess around and make a Pro Bowl this year. He’s been money all summer according to the coaching staff.