The Chargers enter the 2026 season as one of the more intriguing teams entering the league, so much so they cracked the top five in ESPN’s watchability and excitement ranking.
ESPN's Ben Solak ranked all 32 teams by their watchability and how excited he is to watch each team this upcoming season. Solak ranked the Chargers fourth on the list.
"The Chargers could easily have the coolest offense, with Herbert, McDaniel, speedy running back Keaton Mitchell, second-year running back Omarion Hampton and a healthy No. 1 receiver in Ladd McConkey," Solak wrote.
"Even if the defense takes a step back without Jesse Minter (now the head coach of the Ravens) calling the shots, the Chargers should be better equipped to score fast, score big and win shootouts."
The ranking was based on the number of big plays the team is part of, competitive games, and the number of star players the team has.
The three teams above the Chargers were the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears.
The Chargers are certainly projected to be one of the more exciting teams in the league, largely due to the addition of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
With McDaniel's ability to elevate an offense, plus Justin Herbert under center, we are expected to see a ton of fireworks from that offense.
As for the defensive side of the ball, there's a lot to watch there. Derwin James Jr. is still at the top of his game at the safety position, plus the young and dynamic edge rushers in Tuli Tuipulotu and rookie Akheem Mesidor. The Chargers' offense and defense have the talent to be among the top 10 in multiple categories, justifying their top-five ranking on Solak's list.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers crack top five in ESPN's watchability rankings
