Los Angeles Chargers Roster 2018 Chargers Roster

Going on year 16, Philip Rivers is the vet with a rather young team. He only has a few chances left, and this could be a year to do it. His defense is very solid, and Melvin Gordon will be able to take a load off Rivers’ shoulder. There isn’t much backing up Gordon, but we did see Austin Ekeler see some time late last year when Gordon was going through some injury weeks. This is a lengthy receiving core, and they are going to have plenty of depth if Mike Williams or Keenan Allen have injury issues, which has been the case, although Allen finally played a full season. After those two, Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams have been reliable options for Rivers, and with no real tight end in play now that Hunter Henry is injured, we could see one of them step up, and my money would be on Tyrell Williams.

Chargers are a Wild Card, Yet Again

The Los Angeles Chargers had a resurgent year during a time that saw them swap locations within the state. A 9-7 record with key losses in tie-breaker scenarios left the team out of the playoffs. This record improvement was one of the biggest jumps the team has seen in recent years. This is something the team will use to build around in the 2018-19 season.

One of the worst-case scenarios came at the beginning of training camp. Hunter Henry, the team's only tight end prospect, would tear his ACL and would forfeit his 2018-19 season before it began. The team was already facing adversity when the team's leader, Antonio Gates, decided to hang up the cleats. Despite reports of reaching out to Gates, the team was able to land Virgil Green. While Green isn't overly talented and won't put up the numbers the previous mentions could, he fills a role. He does it on a consistency basis, adding pass and run block to bolster a starting line. The Green addition is a blessing in disguise for a team that was left searching for answers earlier this off-season.

Apart from major losses, the team was able to encounter a few key acquisitions. One area that is always in need of support is the offensive line. Protecting Philip Rivers is always at the center of discussion. Rivers will have a new exchange partner in Mike Pouncey. Pouncey comes from the Dolphins and it always in the top 10 discussion of active centers. His consistency will keep the middle protected and will hopefully develop a fluid relationship with Rivers. The team also brought in Geno Smith as a back-up to Rivers. Smith has been flashed as a journeyman within the league, finding his way across multiple divisions and teams. This movement alone is bound to increase one's knowledge for the game over time, so this becomes a welcomed add.

The health of Melvin Gordon is something that needs to remain consistent for the team. Austin Ekeler has been shown to be a proven back-up, spelling Gordon in time of need. If Gordon does return to full health, the team can play around with their sets, finding holes in opposing defenses where each talent can shine. The receiving core is another aspect that needs to remain healthy. While Rivers thrives when facing adversity, he would prefer to have his favorite target Keenan Allen with him throughout a campaign. Mike Williams could emerge from the dust, proving to be the talent the team thought he was when they drafted him in the 1st round.

Jaylen Watkins joins a crowded secondary. The young talent from Philadelphia can provide relief at the cornerback position, being that he is a feisty player. The two corners the team possesses now, Casey Heyward and Jason Verrett, are both proven talents. This limits the chances that Watkins will have, but that does not diminish the value he brings to the secondary. The young core up front is something we are looking for improvement from. Joey Bosa has proven that he can compete with the best of them, challenging Melvin Ingram for the sack title for many years to come. The Bosa and Ingram duo is something that gives opposing teams a fit due to their ability to spread the field, read offensive sets, and get to the quarterback both physically and mentally.