Remember when the Los Angeles Chargers used to crumble completely the second someone went down? One injury, and it felt like the whole season was hanging by a thread. Practice-squad guys were getting thrown into the fire every other week. Yeah… those days feel long gone now.
Funny thing about finally fixing your depth issues? It opens the door to a whole different kind of chaos and headache. Fast forward to 2025, and Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are stacked with talent. But now? You’ve got cutthroat roster battles, sky-high expectations, and some tough decisions to make. The man soaking up most of the pressure? Jim Harbaugh.
In a recent ‘Top Training Storylines to Watch‘ episode by the Chargers, The Athletic‘s Daniel Popper talks about key roster positions where the competition is skyrocketing. First up? Corners. “Corner is going to be highly competitive. You have Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart returning, two free agent veteran signings, Dante Jackson and Ben St. Juste,” he remarked.
That’s four top, top guys, all playing for different reasons. Still and Hart are trying to turn flashes into full-time roles, and Jackson and St. Juste? They bring that veteran experience and are fighting to lock down a spot. And yeah, it’s tight. Just look at the numbers. Still held QBs to a 58.7 passer rating as a rookie, but slipped to 72.4 last year. That kind of dip could cost him snaps if he doesn’t bounce back. And whoever comes out on top? He could end up shaping how Harbaugh builds his whole secondary.
Now, let’s talk the interior DL. As Popper put it, “Interior DL … feels like a very deep group… but I think the question is who’s going to be that top-end producer.” Last season, Brandon Staley’s defence leaned way too much on Christian Covington’s 6.5 sacks and low-graded stop-gap interior pass-rush.
Fast forward to now, and there’s way more depth to work with. Young edge rusher Tyson McDaniel is flashing potential, Byron Cowart brings that veteran mentality, and both are eyeing breakout roles. But here’s the truth: the Chargers had just 28 sacks total in 2024. That’s not going to cut it. Depth is great, but someone has to be that difference maker. Is someone ready to take on that role? We’ll have to wait till September to find out.
Then there’s that ever-dynamic receiver room. “You’ve got Mike Williams, you’ve got Quinton Johnston… and then the rookies, Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, all fighting for snaps,” Popper added. Williams only played six games in 2024 but still put up 623 yards and 5 touchdowns. When he’s healthy, the guy is a menace. But injuries have cracked the door wide open for the younger guys.
Tre Harris is coming off a 780-yard season in college, while Lambert-Smith put up 900 and looked every bit like a future playmaker. At the same time? Johnston had 35 catches last year, but if he doesn’t make a leap soon… he could be the odd man out. You’re probably out there scratching your head, looking at these names. Imagine how Harbaugh feels. But talent might not be the only thing influencing his decisions.
Rookie contracts and cap squeeze add to the pressure
And underneath all these intense roster battles? There’s another kind of pressure building. Something we as fans forget about, but those sitting in the front office? They can’t ignore it. The pressure? Salary cap crunch. The Chargers already have humongous deals on the books. Justin Herbert’s $262.5 million contract (yeah, that one), and Derwin James are still pulling in top-tier safety money. That means every role player, every rookie deal, every depth decision matters.
That’s what makes this year’s camp battles way more than just good old football drama. These aren’t just “best player wins” situations; there are way more layers to it. It’s about value–sporting and economic. Who’s cheaper? Who’s more efficient? Who gives Harbaugh the most long-term flexibility? A mix of everything.
Take wide receiver, for example. Let’s say KeAndre Lambert-Smith balls out in camp and outshines Quinton Johnston. And Quinton is still locked into that fully guaranteed first-round deal. Now you’ve got a real dilemma on your hands. Does on-field production win out over draft status and money already spent?
These are the tough calls that turn training camp into more than just highlight reels. It’s almost roster math in real time. And as much as Jim Harbaugh influences these decisions, the front office has a big role to play, too.
What did we learn? In the NFL, having great depth is not always sunshine and rainbows.
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