2021 was Brandon Staley’s first season in charge of the team and whilst there was plenty of promise, results were mixed. The team took its offense to the next level, with Justin Herbert cementing himself as one of the game’s brightest talents. The defense wasn’t as good though and their inability to stop the run saw them finish the season 9-8 and come third in the AFC West. Expectations will no doubt be higher for 2022.
Offseason additions and losses
Defense was the Chargers’ achilles heel in 2021 and they made a point of addressing it this offseason. The marquee move was trading for Khalil Mack, who will come in and pair with Joey Bosa to give them one of the most lethal edge rushing duos in the NFL. They bolstered the secondary too with a big free agency move for J.C. Jackson who arrives on a five-year, $82.5 million deal. The additions of slot corner Bryce Callaghan and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day might not have garnered the same headlines, but they will be big contributors from the outset.
The additions were big, but there were some notable departures too. Uchenna Nwosu moved on to Seattle, having ranked second on the team with 40 pressures in 2021. Kyzir White is another starter to leave, having played all 17 games in 2021. Bryan Bulaga left after two injury plagued seasons that saw him make just 10 starts at right tackle. Veterans Chris Harris Jr. and Jared Cook also left in free agency.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 1.17 | Zion Johnson – IOL, Boston College |
| 3.79 | J.T. Woods – S, Baylor |
| 4.123 | Isaiah Spiller – RB, Texas A&M |
| 5.160 | Otito Ogbonnia – IDL, UCLA |
| 6.195 | Jamaree Salyer – IOL, Georgia |
| 6.214 | Ja’Sir Taylor – CB, Wake Forest |
| 7.236 | Deane Leonard – CB, Ole Miss |
| 7.260 | Zander Horvath – FB, Purdue |
Johnson might not offer the elite ceiling of some other prospects in this class, but he has an incredibly high floor and should be a reliable starter for the Chargers out of the gate as they continue to bolster their offensive line. Woods was a somewhat surprising pick, but Brandon Staley has said that he is keen to have positional flexibility in the secondary and Woods gives them the personnel to play more three safety formations. They added plenty of depth with players like Spiller and Ogbonnia and in Salyer they have a player who could compete for a starting spot at right tackle in 2022.
Offense
Entering his third year in the NFL, Justin Herbert is already amongst the very best quarterbacks the NFL has to offer. He has everything you want in a starter and has already given the Chargers one of the league’s best passing attacks. The team has ranked seventh and fourth in passing DVOA in each of Herbert’s two seasons. He ranks sixth in EPA per play since entering the league in 2020. With him under center they are capable of beating any team.
In addition to one of the game’s brightest young talents at quarterback, the Chargers have a truly excellent set of skill position players. Austin Ekeler is a true dual threat in the backfield, whilst Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are amongst the better receiving duos in the league. The addition of Gerald Everett to replace Jared Cook at tight end was another good move this offseason.
Even the offensive line is no longer the problem it once was. They have finally found their franchise left tackle in the form of Rashawn Slater, who earned All-Pro honours as a rookie. They also return the best center in football in Corey Linsley who was a huge addition in 2021. With Matt Feiler and Zion Johnson at guard this line is looking great. The only question is right tackle, where Trey Pipkins is the projected starter.
Defense
Brandon Staley earned a reputation as a defensive mastermind as the Rams’ defensive coordinator but he struggled to translate that success in his first year with the Chargers. A big part of the problem was working with the personnel from the previous regime. Addressing those shortcomings has been the top priority this offseason with some huge additions. Assuming that Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa stay healthy they are comfortably the best edge duo in football.
The secondary has also had a big boost with the addition of J.C. Jackson and Bryce Callahan. Jackson is truly one of the games best boundary corners, allowing the lowest passer rating of any player since 2019. Callahan is an underrated slot corner whose 5.4 yards per target since 2019 ranks third at the position. They join Asante Samuel to give the Chargers one of the best cornerback trios in football. They also boast one of the best safeties in football in Derwin James. James is a true swiss army knife that allows defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill to get creative with his coverages.
The unit’s big weakness in 2021 was their inability to stop the run. This is a defense built around six man boxes but that proved woefully inadequate with the personnel they had last season. The Chargers’ defense finished 30th in rushing DVOA in 2021. The addition of Sebastian Joseph-Day, who leads all defensive linemen in run stop rate since 2019, should help things. That said, there is still an area of uncertainty that they need to dispel before being considered a truly elite defense in 2022.
Prediction
The Chargers had a playoff calibre offense in 2021 but were let down by their defense. They will admittedly have their work cut out in the toughest division in football, but the serious investment they have made at every level of the defense should help to propel them to the postseason. This is a team that should be considered a leading contender for a Super Bowl title in 2022.
