The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Los Angeles Chargers and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Los Angeles Chargers Defense
The Chargers were not stout against the run in 2024, allowing 4.6 yards per running back carry (25th) and forcing a negative run on 14% of all RB attempts (26th).
They were particularly bad after contact, allowing 3.27 yards on average after the first hit on RB carries (28th).
They lost both Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency, but Teair Tart was re-signed. They also added Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones in free agency before drafting Jamaree Caldwell in the third round.
Ford specifically stands out as a big loss given their struggles against the run even with him in the game.
The Chargers could really use a step forward from Justin Eboigbe, a fourth-round pick last year who barely saw the field as a rookie.
The defense did finish sixth with 46 sacks in 2024, but their 33.4% pressure rate (19th) suggests that sack total is somewhat inflated.
The team moved on from Joey Bosa this offseason, but they brought back Khalil Mack on a one-year deal and drafted Kyle Kennard in the fourth round.
With Bosa gone, Tuli Tuipulotu will be an unquestioned starter heading into his third season. He led the team last year with 8.5 sacks, but his 11.4% pressure rate through two seasons leaves something to be desired.
Bud Dupree is the other veteran in this unit, and he matched Mack with 6 sacks of his own while playing a similar number of snaps.
A 2023 third-round pick, Daiyan Henley appears to be a great draft hit for the Chargers at linebacker. He started all 17 games for the team last year, leading them with 11 run stuffs and a tackle on 22% of his run defense snaps.
Junior Colson, who played for both Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter at Michigan, was limited to 218 snaps across 11 games as a rookie.
The team also brought back Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye, who played a similar number of snaps as Colson but were ahead of the rookie on the depth chart at different times.
The Chargers played well against the pass in 2024, allowing 6.7 yards per attempt (2nd) and finishing sixth in defensive EPA per pass. They also made big plays, securing 15 interceptions (8th).
Kristian Fulton is gone, but the Chargers brought in both Donte Jackson and Benjamin St–Juste in free agency.
If everything goes to plan, those two veterans will be competing for a role behind Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, two 2024 fifth-round picks who surprised with good rookie seasons.
Given how much Derwin James should play in the slot in three safety looks, the corner group is competing for really two jobs, and the Chargers certainly hope those go to the two youngsters at the top of the depth chart.
Used more in the slot as the season went on, James is coming off a good season in which he logged 5.5 sacks, played well against the run, and allowed a 74.2 quarterback rating in coverage.
James’ versatility leaves room for both Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden to play a lot of snaps at safety.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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