Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz filled in the blanks during free agency this past month, adding depth where it was needed and strengthening positions that needed it, too. His offseason work is only just beginning, though. The NFL draft is right around the corner, April 24-26.
Before looking ahead, it’s important to look back.
The Chargers needed a running back to replace Gus Edwards, who was cut. So, Hortiz signed Najee Harris, a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris’ consistency should bode well for a team searching for an improved ground game.
The Chargers needed a wide receiver to give quarterback Justin Herbert an another reliable target. So, Hortiz signed Mike Williams, a former Charger who had been jettisoned during last year’s cost-cutting moves. Williams and Herbert know each other well and should rekindle their relationship.
The Chargers needed help on the offensive line in the wake of the onslaught of Houston Texans pass-rushers during their 32-12 defeat in an AFC wild-card game last Jan. 11. So, Hortiz signed former Philadelphia Eagles right guard Mekhi Becton, who was coming off his best season in the NFL.
Here’s a closer look at the Chargers’ depth chart going into the draft:
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Justin Herbert. Backup: Taylor Heinicke. The skinny: Easton Stick struggled during training camp while replacing an injured Herbert, who had a foot injury, so the Chargers traded for Heinicke, and then re-signed him.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starter: Najee Harris. Backups: Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Scott Matlock (fullback). The skinny: The Chargers parted ways with Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins and signed Harris in the hope that he would jump-start their much-needed running game.
WIDE RECEIVER
Projected starters: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Mike Williams. Backups: Derius Davis, Jalen Reagor, Dez Fitzpatrick, Jaylen Johnson, Brenden Rice. The skinny: McConkey set Chargers rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards, but the Chargers needed to give Herbert another reliable target, so they signed Williams.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Tyler Conklin. Backups: Will Dissly, Tucker Fisk. The skinny: The Chargers’ blocking was improved with Dissly and Hayden Hurst last season, but they didn’t get the desired playmaking. Conklin should help in that regard.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Rashawn Slater (left tackle), Zion Johnson (left guard), Bradley Bozeman (center), Mekhi Becton (right guard), Joe Alt (right tackle). Backups: Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer, Bucky Williams, Karsen Barnhart, Tyler McLellan. The skinny: Herbert needed better protection than he received last season, when he was sacked 41 times, the most in his five-season career. Becton was a key signing.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: Otito Ogbonnia, Teair Tart, Da’Shawn Hand. Backups: Scott Matlock, Naquan Jones, Justin Eboigbe, Christopher Hinton. The skinny: The Chargers lost Poona Ford to the Rams and Morgan Fox to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, but re-signed Tart and added Hand, a former Miami Dolphin.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu. Backups: Bud Dupree, Tre’Mon Morris, Caleb Murphy, Chris Collins. The skinny: Mack, a likely Hall of Famer, signed a one-year extension worth a guaranteed $18 million to return to the Chargers for a fourth season and his 12th in the NFL, overall.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson. Backups: Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips, Jerermiah Jean-Baptiste. The skinny: The Chargers signed Phillips, a special teams ace with the Texans, to replace Nick Niemann, who signed with Houston. Dye and Perryman were re-signed.
CORNERBACKS
Projected starters: Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still. Backups: Ja’Sir Taylor, Donte Jackson, Deane Leonard, Benjamin St-Juste. The skinny: On the theory that you can never have too many quality cornerbacks, Hortiz signed Jackson and St-Juste. Hart and Still impressed as rookies this past season.
SAFTIES
Projected starters: Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gillman. Backups: Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, Kendall Williamson, Emany Johnson. The skinny: Molden and Jefferson re-signed, with Moden agreeing to a three-year, $18.75-million extension back on Feb. 20, the first of the Chargers to get a new deal.
SPECIALISTS
Cameron Dicker (kicker), JK Scott (punter, holder), Josh Harris (long snapper). The skinny: Keeping the band together was a priority, so Hortiz re-signed Scott to a new two-year, $6-million deal March 10, two days before free agency opened.
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