By Adam Kerr
It is no secret that the 2024-25 NFL season is instrumental in showcasing the future of the Los Angeles Chargers. A new head coach, a new general manager, and a revamped roster have many asking questions about what the bolts will look like in the upcoming season. Now, the football world can see what the answers to those questions may look like in training camp. From position battles to superstar rookies, here are some things worth watching in this year’s Chargers training camp.
The Starting Right Guard Spot
New coach Jim Harbaugh made it a point to beef up the offensive line in his first offseason with the Los Angeles Chargers. Taking Notre Dame LT Joe Alt in the draft his year was the first indication of that decision. Since the run game is so important for both Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s offenses, the final O-line depth chart will be essential for the offense this year. First off, Rashawn Slater is all but locked into the Left Tackle Spot. Left Guard is third-year Zion Johnson’s position to lose after bulking up this offseason. Offseason addition Bradley Bozeman likely has the starting Center spot locked down, and first-rounder Joe Alt is expected to transition to Right Tackle during training camp. That leaves the right guard spot under question.
Although ESPN’s depth chart has Jamaree Salyer starting at RG, it is expected that RT Trey Pipkins III will attempt to transition to Guard to take the starting spot there. Pipkins struggled at Tackle last year, and fans & coaches alike are hoping that he shows improvement and consistency at Guard. Should Pipkins show he can start at guard in the NFL, the Chargers frontlines should be up there with the best in the league.
Competition at Slot Corner
One thing coaches hope can happen to improve the roster is a competition for a spot on the roster. That may happen with the slot corner spot on this Chargers lineup. Ja’Sir Taylor has held down the spot for two seasons, but a rookie is coming in to take the spot. Maryland’s Tarheeb Still hopes to make a name for himself on this Chargers roster, and taking the slot corner spot is the easiest way of making that happen. There’s currently no way of knowing who will emerge with the starting nod by the end of camp, but the competition will surely lead to both parties playing harder than ever before. What may be the most likely outcome is the two splitting starting reps come the start of the season, however, the possibility of either Still or Taylor taking sole possession of the starting spot is also very possible.
Final Wide Receiver Depth Chart
The most talked-about part of this current Chargers roster is the Wide Receiver room. While nobody has a chokehold on the number one spot for this team, any possibility can happen. The current depth chart has Josh Palmer at the top spot, with the rest of the order being D.J. Chark, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston. However, the chances are that this is not how the final depth chart will look. It is only a matter of time before former Georgia superstar Ladd McConkey cements himself as Justin Herbert’s top option (during camp or mid-season). Palmer will likely keep control of a top-two spot on the roster, but the rest is up for grabs. Will Quentin Johnston show major improvement in his second year? Will Brenden Rice prove that he shouldn’t have lasted until the second round? Does the front office shock the world and trade for Brandon Aiyuk? Will Jim Harbaugh go with a veteran like Chark for the third spot? There are many questions surrounding who exactly will be receiving passes from Justin Herbert this year, which will largely be answered throughout camp.
Questions Surrounding the RB Room
The Chargers run game will be intriguing throughout training camp and the regular season. Bringing in last year’s Ravens backfield with Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins along with former Baltimore OC Greg Roman gives fans an idea of what the run game may look like. However, exactly how this is run is a question. Dobbins is expected to be RB2 as he continues to recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in 2023. Gus Edwards is aging but is expected to be the bellcow for this Chargers offense for now. However, many believe that if Dobbins stays healthy, he will take the starting job in no time. Of course, J.K. Dobbins staying healthy is a challenge in itself. Chargers fans will just be hoping that this backfield doesn’t end the way it did in Baltimore.
A Sleeper Rookie Getting the Green Dot?
The Chargers taking Junior Colson out of Michigan in the third round of the 2024 Draft was a surprise to nobody. Being a star under current coach Jim Harbaugh and Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter, Colson likely knows the Chargers defensive scheme better than any veteran on the roster. Because of this trust built over three years with his coaches, they may not hesitate to give him the green dot depending on his performance in training camp. Along with his position coach being former Niners superstar NaVorro Bowman, he will have a great shot at taking a starting linebacker spot in his rookie year. However, he will have to compete with second-year Daiyan Henley and veteran Denzel Perryman. While it is doable for Colson to make a name for himself in training camp, he will need to play out of his mind to prove this early on that he is worthy of a starting spot and the green dot.
