Chargers 53-Man Roster Projection Heading Into OTAs

TE  (3)

• Oronde Gadsden

• Charlie Kolar

• David Njoku 

Tanner McLachlan out, in for these projections. It’s a little light, but Oronde Gadsden figures to pretty much never come off the field anyway. Charlie Kolar is a capable third and blocker. 

OL  (10)

• Rashawn Slater

• Jake Slaughter

• Tyler Biadasz

• Cole Strange

• Joe Alt

• Trey Pipkins

• Trevor Penning

• Travis Burke

• Kayode Awosika

• Logan Taylor

Talk about a dramatic overhaul. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt should be healthy. Same for swing tackle backup Trey Pipkins. Second-rounder Jake Slaughter was a polarizing draft pick, but they believe he can start at guard. Other new arrivals like Cole Strange and Kayode Awosika fit McDaniel’s athletic requirements for his scheme. 

DL/EDGE (10)

• Teair Tart

• Dalvin Tomlinson

• Jamaree Caldwell

• Justin Eboigbe

• Nick Barrett

• Khalil Mack

• Akheem Mesidor

• Tuli Tuipulotu

• Kyle Kennard

• Nadame Tucker

First-rounder Akheem Mesidor was a little older than some might have liked and made the decision to let Odafe Oweh get away a little strange. But he should be able to help right away. He and undrafted standout Nadame Tucker push names like Bud Dupree off the roster. It’s flying under the radar, but the Chargers still got a big win when they re-signed Teair Tart early in the process this offseason. 

LB  (5)

• Denzel Perryman

• Daiyan Henley

• Junior Colson

• Troy Dye

• Del'Shawn Phillips

Is Junior Colson going to flash and stick around? Hard to stay, but he sticks here for now. But Del'Shawn Phillips remains a special teams ace. Troy Dye is a backup most teams would like to have. This spot is a candidate to get chopped down further, though. 

CB  (6)

• Tarheeb Still

• Donte Jackson

• Cam Hart

• Deane Leonard

• Eric Rogers

• Nikko Reed

The Chargers are suffering from success at corner. Derwin James mans the slot. Eric Rogers and Nikko Reed are overlooked finds. Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart were mid-rounders who helped right away. Donte Jackson was a castoff of a free agent who did well in the scheme, too. 

S  (5)

• Derwin James

• Elijah Molden

• Tony Jefferson

• RJ Mickens

• Genesis Smith

Elijah Molden-Tony Jefferson as the duo means James can play to his strengths in the slot near the line of scrimmage. Draft pick Genesis Smith will need to fix tackling woes from college to make this projection right, though, as RJ Mickens looks like a possible steal over the long-term, too.

ST (2)

• Cameron Dicker (K)

• JK Scott (P)