
NFL teams are required to cut their rosters down to 53 players by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. As of typing this, the Chargers have yet to announce any cuts amongst their team.
Before they get going, here’s my final roster prediction of the summer.
Let’s dive in.
Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
From the Hall of Fame Game through the team’s fourth and final preseason game, Lance outplayed veteran Taylor Heinicke
Running Back (5): Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Raheim Sanders, Scott
Matlock (FB)
I am nowhere close to trusting anyone on Najee Harris’ timeline regarding his return to the field as every ounce of news since his eye injury occurred has been a bit stretched. I believe he starts on the NFI list and will miss the first four games of the season.
If that’s the case, I have both Vidal and Sanders making the roster behind Hampton and Haskins. Haskins’ special teams contributions and strong, consistent running this preseason has me believing he’s hitting the ground running as the team’s RB3 to begin the regular season.
Wide Receiver (6): Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis
Again, this is the most locked-in group on the roster. I don’t think Johnston’s concussion he sustained against the Rams will cause him to miss time at the start of the regular season and there truly wasn’t any one receiver behind these six that really showed enough to push for a roster spot.
Tight End (3): Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, Oronde Gadsden II
This group is also staying the same from my last roster prediction. I don’t expect Fisk to be claimed on waivers and the Chargers need the space elsewhere on the roster to keep some of their young talent that flashed this preseason.
Offensive Line (9): Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, Trey Pipkins, Jamaree Salyer, Andre James, Branson Taylor, David Sharpe
Before the preseason, I would have told you that the interior defensive line was the worst position group on the roster. Somehow, someway, the offensive line has more questions now than I ever would have expected. The loss of Rashawn Slater cannot be understated. It has forced the Chargers to sign a new tackle to compete for the swing (David Sharpe) and even after doing so, Jamaree Salyer is still the next man in because of Sharpe’s rough play through the latter half of the preseason.
2025 sixth-round pick Branson Taylor has also not transitioned well to guard and is now working back at tackle to help with depth on the outside. Right now, this is who I have making the team. However, like many others around the team believe, I don’t think this is who ends up being the active roster players come Week One. I foresee the Chargers scooping up someone else that gets cut from another team in hopes of further solidifying this group.
Interior Defensive Line (5): Teair Tart, Da’Shawn Hand, Otito Ogbonnia, Naquan Jones, Justin Eboigbe
Jones played some of his best football in the team’s final two preseason games and I believe he could be one of the more surprising players in this group as the year goes on. Hand has also looked good in his minimal snaps this month. In practice, Tart has looked the part of the team’s top interior player.
One player who has reportedly improved from a year ago is Ogbonnia. I’m not totally sold on that idea until we see the returns this season. As for Eboigbe, The Atheltic’s Daniel Popper has reported he’s put on mass and is now a more powerful player than he was this time a season ago.
Edge Rusher (5): Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Caleb Murphy, Kyle Kennard
Murphy has been strong all preseason and deserves to make this team. Kennard has been as quiet as a mouse all training camp. Right now, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year is somehow one of the last Chargers to make the team this year.
Here’s to hoping things turn around fast. Otherwise, the Chargers may be looking for another edge rusher early in next year’s draft class.
Linebacker (4): Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips
Former third-rounder Junior Colson did not play in the team’s final two preseason games and has barely practice over the past two weeks. There’s a belief that he could start the year on IR and miss the first four games at minimum. If that happens, Phillips is a sure-thing for the active roster as a strong special-teamer with enough experience to be a serviceable defender in a pinch.
Cornerback (6): Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Nikko Reed, Ja’Sir Taylor
If I had my way, Taylor would not make this team. The special teams value he brings seemingly outweighs the liability he was in coverage all throughout the 2024 season. Coach Ficken likes his guys on his unit that he can trust and Taylor is one of them.
I believe Reed has earned a role on this team. Keeping six cornerbacks feels right for a group without a bonafide starting group. Jackson has been up and down in camp thus far. Still and Hart are still young and need the veteran presence. As for St-Juste, he did not look great in his limited preseason action. His experience will help him make this team, but he likely has a short leash.
Safety (5): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, R.J. Mickens
Still one of the most talented positions on the roster. Jefferson has been the team’s third safety with Molden still returning to 100 percent. Mickens has been stellar in all facets of his play this preseason. I can’t imagine the team letting any of these players go.
Special Teams (3): Cameron Dicker, Josh Harris, JK Scott
Keep it together. Change nothing. Profit.