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With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2024 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the Los Angeles Chargers, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the Los Angeles Chargers rookies?
- Joe Alt — OT — Round 1
- Ladd McConkey — WR — Round 2
- Junior Colson — LB — Round 3
- Justin Eboigbe — DT — Round 4
- Tarheeb Still — CB — Round 5
- Cam Hart — CB — Round 5
- Kimani Vidal — RB — Round 6
- Brenden Rice — WR — Round 7
- Cornelius Johnson — WR — Round 7
Los Angeles Chargers Draft Class Grade:
The Los Angeles Chargers received a B+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which Chargers Rookies Will Make An Impact?
Jim Harbaugh wants to build the Chargers the same way he developed a national championship team at Michigan, and that starts with a dominant offensive line. So the selection of Joe Alt (first round) should have come as no surprise. Although Alt started 33 games at left tackle during his three years at Notre Dame, he will likely be the Week 1 starter on the right side in Los Angeles.
Ladd McConkey (second round) fills a position of need but was a mildly surprising selection as he is one of the smallest receivers in this class at 186 pounds. At Michigan, Harbaugh favored more physical receivers who can block, and that’s never going to be a strength for McConkey.
McConkey likely plays a significant role in the slot as a rookie, where he will do most of his damage after the catch. Based on route-adjusted data, McConkey picked up 22% more yards after catch than expected in 2023, and 15% more over the course of his career at Georgia.
Harbaugh predictably added a Michigan prospect on Day 2 in Junior Colson (third round). Colson likely wins a starting job this year and could play a vital leadership role, as he spent the past two seasons playing under new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter at Michigan.
For Colson to elevate his game at the next level, he’ll need to improve his anticipation skills 一 he was more of a clean-up tackler than someone who made splash plays at Michigan. Colson’s average tackle was made 2.9 yards past the line of scrimmage, which ranked 21st out of 28 qualified Big Ten linebackers.
Justin Eboigbe (fourth round) played a versatile role at Alabama, lining up on the edge and the interior. At Michigan, Minter primarily ran a 2-4-5 defense while mixing in some three-man fronts. In that scheme, Eboigbe will likely be limited to playing on the interior.
Harbaugh had plenty of exposure in college to Tarheeb Still (fifth round), who was a four-year starting cornerback at Maryland. After a breakout freshman year, Still never made a significant impact, however. Based on route-adjusted metrics, Still allowed a catch rate 13% above expected during his senior year with a ball-hawk rate 24% below expected.
Joining Still in the secondary will be Cam Hart (fifth round). Hart’s athletic testing was underwhelming, but he has impressive length and should be a good fit in what is likely to be a zone-heavy scheme. Michigan played zone coverage at the fourth-highest rate in FBS last year.
Kimani Vidal (sixth round) has a good chance to land the third-string running back gig behind J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Vidal is a physical, compact runner who likely reminds Harbaugh of Blake Corum.
Brenden Rice (seventh round) has decent size and big, reliable hands 一 his route-adjusted catch rate was 5.7% above expected over the last two seasons. Rice will compete with another Wolverine, Cornelius Johnson (seventh round), for the final spots on the depth chart at receiver. And it’s possible there won’t be room for both due to the post-draft addition of D.J. Chark.
This was a solid class for the Chargers, though there’s not a ton of upside. It made sense for Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz to come in and stabilize the offensive line in their first year 一 and the selection of Alt did just that. A slot receiver and off-ball linebacker on Day 2 are the selections that limit the long-term upside of this class, though both players were selected in a reasonable range and filled needs, so you can’t question the selections too much.
This analysis continues in the 2024 Football Preview
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