ESPN Approved: Is the Los Angeles Chargers Roster the Best in the NFL?

It’s impossible to deny that the Los Angeles Chargers are one of the best teams in the NFL. With ample talent on both sides of the ball, they are one of the  favorites to win the Super Bowl in 2020. 

The question is: could the Los Angeles Chargers roster rightfully be considered the best in the NFL this coming season? It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say so. Let’s take a closer look, shall we? 

The Offense

The Chargers offense ranked tied for 6th in points scored during the 2018 season, making theirs one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Considering that they’ve lost almost no one on the offensive side of the ball, there’s no reason to believe that they won’t be just as effective this coming season.

Below, we’re going discuss how the team fares at every offensive position. Let’s get into it. 

Quarterback

Philip Rivers is as reliable a quarterback as any team could ever hope for. He’s started 208 games in a row and has consistently put up big numbers. As long as he’s in the driver’s seat, the Chargers stand a chance. 

Running Backs 

Between dual-threat  starter Melvin Gordon and highly effective backup Austin Ekeler, the Chargers backfield is one of the best in the league. Expect big things from them this season. 

Wide Receivers

The Chargers wide receiver team  matches up favorably against most in the league. Lead by 2-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen with support from the improving Mike Williams, it provides quarterback Philip Rivers with  high-quality targets both in and out of the red zone. 

Tight Ends 

The season-ending injury of tight end Hunter Henry left the Chargers hurting at the position last season. His return this season adds a huge receiving threat to the offense. He, along with solid TE Virgil Green, should help Philip Rivers mightily throughout the year. 

Offensive Line 

If there’s one sore spot on the Chargers roster, it’s the offensive line. While this unit played well throughout most of last season, it faltered toward season’s end (and into the playoffs as well).

At the very least, it has center Mike Pouncey and left tackle Russel Okung to hang its hat on. However, if it’s going to excel, it’s going to need its young guys to step up in a big way. 

The Defense

It wasn’t just the Chargers offense that excelled last season, but their  defense as well. At the end of last season, they ranked 8th overall for points allowed. And like the offense, they’ve lost very little. 

We’ll break things down by position below. 

Defensive Line

Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram comprise  arguably the best edge-rushing duo in the  NFL. If Bosa can stay healthy, they should wreak havoc all season. 

The middle of the line is less impressive but should be effective enough to get the job done. It will be lead by veteran Brandon Mebane and rookie first-rounder Jerry Tillery out of Notre Dame. 

Linebackers

While the Chargers linebackers unit has very little star power, it’s one of the deeper LB units in the league. Most experts believe it to contain 5 legitimate starters, including Thomas Davis Sr., Denzel Perryman, Uchenna Nwosu, Kyzir White, and Jatavis Brown. The Chargers are hoping for the leadership of ex-Panther Thomas Davis to help the other linebackers shine. 

Secondary 

To put it simply, the Chargers will very arguably have the best secondary in the league this season. Their corners consist of multiple-time Pro Bowler Casey Hayward and 2018 All-Pro Desmond King II. Their safeties, on the other hand, consist of 2018 All-Pros Adrian Phillips and Derwin James. 

In short, this unit is loaded at every position. And considering how young it is, it should only be better this season. 

Special Teams 

The Chargers special teams are a bit of a mixed bag going into the season. However, they are expected to be average, at the very least. 

2nd-year kicker Michael Badgley showed signs of competency last year as a rookie, making 15 of 16 field goal attempts, one of which was good from 59 yards. While sophomore kickers are anything but a certainty, there’s some reason to believe he’ll be solid again this season. 

Returner Desmond King II was superb returning both punts and kickoffs. However, considering his All-Pro status as a defensive back, he might be handing some of his return duties over to  WR/return specialist Travis Benjamin. 

And when it comes to punting, the team is in limbo. Right now, they have two unproven punters signed: Ty Long, a successful Canadian Football League punter with no NFL experience and Tyler Newsome, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame. They’ll battle it out for the starting spot during training camp. 

So, How Good is the Los Angeles Chargers Roster?

When looking at things from an objective standpoint, it’s difficult to rank the Chargers roster outside of the top 7.  Their only legitimate competition is  the Patriots, the Chiefs, the Rams, the Saints, the Colts, and maybe the Bears. While teams such as the Browns, the Texans, and the Vikings possess a good amount of talent, a  good deal of  this talent still has a lot to prove. 

This Chargers team, on the other hand, has gone toe to toe with some of the best rosters in the league, sometimes coming out victorious and sometimes falling short. While they might not have enough luck to win the Super Bowl,  they at least possess enough talent to get there. 

The question is: will they be able to execute with the season on the line? History says no.

Of course,  in the NFL, if your team has enough talent, you stand a chance. In other words, the Los Angeles Chargers are most definitely Super Bowl contenders this season. 

Looking to Catch Some Chargers Games This Season?

The Los Angeles Chargers roster is as good as any in the NFL. Regardless of whether they’re able to make it to the Super Bowl this coming season, they’re a must-watch team. 

Are you interested in catching some Chargers games in person?  Barry’s Tickets has you covered. 

Browse our selection of Chargers tickets now!