Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart 2019 Chargers Depth Chart

How Will Their Running Back Depth Chart Look Opening Day?

The biggest storyline for the Chargers right now is Melvin Gordon’s holdout. The 5th year running back wants to get paid like a top 5 running back, but the Chargers are reportedly unwilling to budge from their current offer. This obviously creates an interesting situation for the Chargers. On one hand, Gordon has been one of the most productive backs for the past 3 years and is definitely a guy the Chargers would like to be on their team for the foreseeable future. Conversely, Gordon isn’t a top 5 player at his position, and has suffered from injuries the past couple years. It doesn’t help Gordon’s cause that in his absence, the Chargers went 4-0 last year and his replacements showed out. Those replacements, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson have the ability to hold down the fort while Gordon holds out. The Chargers used the 15th pick on Gordon 4 years ago, and you never want to see a player selected that high walk away for nothing. Conversely, Melvin Gordon is not an absolute necessity for this team to be successful, so paying him like he is would be a mistake.

Who Will Be the Third Receiver for the Team?

The Chargers have a very formidable WR1 and WR2 duo in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but after those two their receiver depth chart gets a little murky. Tyrell Williams used to hold that spot, and he filled it well, but he’s since departed for the Raiders. As it stands, the most likely WR3 for the Chargers will be Travis Benjamin. Travis Benjamin is a pretty experienced receiver that has had successful seasons with Rivers in years past. His notable trait is his speed, which allows him to stretch out the field as a quality deep threat. Still, he had a pretty dismal season last year, where he had just 1 touchdown and 186 receiving yards. Without Benjamin, the Chargers would still have Allen, Williams, and a presumably healthy Hunter Henry to round out their group of pass catchers, and that would still be a very good core. But if Benjamin can step up, that core could be elevated from very good to elite.

Who Will be the Chargers’ Interior Pass Rushers?

The Los Angeles Chargers arguably have the best duo of edge rushers in the league, with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Bosa was injured for much of the season last year, so those two were unable to show off how dominant they could be together last year. Look for them to remind the league of their dominance this season. Still, there are questions about the supporting cast on the defensive line. Right now, it would appear the duo will be flanked by Brandon Mebane and Jerry Tillery, though Justin Jones and Damion Square are also viable options. Veterans like Brandon Mebane and Damion Square are solid if unspectacular options that will give consistent production but are unlikely to become big time x-factors on the team. Jones and Tillery on the other hand, are young players that will likely determine the ceiling of the defensive line. Tillery in particular stands out, as he was the Chargers first round pick this year and was drafted to support Bosa and Ingram. Those two players will once again be the stars of the defensive line, but it’s their supporting cast that could determine how lethal this pass rush could become.