| News |
|---|
|
Isaiah Spiller Isaiah Spiller Could land RB2 role
Tue, May 10, 2022, 10:41 AM
Spiller profiles as the front-runner for the Chargers' No. 2 running back job behind starter Austin Ekeler, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: With last year's top backup Justin Jackson not having been re-signed, there's a path for Spiller to claim the No. 2 role behind Ekeler. To do so, Spiller will have to beat out both Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree, but that's a plausible outcome, given that the Texas A&M product -- who the Chargers list at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds -- supplements his physical and elusive running style with solid enough hands to contribute as a pass-catcher. As long as Ekeler remains healthy, Spiller -- who is bouncing back from strained adductor muscle -- may not see steady volume, but if he indeed slots in ahead of Kelley and Rountree, the 2022 fourth-rounder would be a candidate to see an uptick in fantasy value in the event that Ekeler misses time for any reason. |
|
Inks deal with Chargers
Thu, May 5, 2022, 3:26 PM
Van Noy signed a one-year contract with the Chargers on Thursday.
Analysis: Van Noy was let go by the Patriots in early March, but he'll join the Chargers nearly two months later. The 31-year-old appeared in 16 games for New England in 2021 and logged 66 tackles (42 solo), five sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a touchdown and 10 pass defenses. He'll compete for work alongside Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack (foot) heading into 2022. |
|
Headed to LA
Tue, May 3, 2022, 5:49 PM
Callahan agreed to a one-year deal with the Chargers on Tuesday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Analysis: Callahan has spent the last three seasons with Denver, after spending the previous four with the Bears. He appeared in 11 games in 2021, while missing time with a knee injury, and totaled 29 tackles (25 solo) and four passes defensed. Callahan has crossed paths with Chargers head coach Brandon Staley before, first while they were together in Chicago and in 2019 with Denver, although Callahan missed the season with a foot injury. His familiarity with Staley's system, due to it's similarities to former Bears defensive coordinator and Bronco's head coach Vic Fangio's, should help Callahan acclimate to the Chargers quickly. |
|
Fifth-year option declined
Tue, May 3, 2022, 2:11 PM
The Chargers declined the fifth-year option on Tillery's rookie contract Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Tillery has steadily progressed in each of his first three seasons in the NFL and registered career highs in tackles (51) and sacks (4.5) last season. While the team declined the defensive tackle's option, he remains in the Chargers' plans moving forward and a possible long-term extension could still be in play. |
|
Gets chance with Chargers
Sun, May 1, 2022, 5:07 PM
Smartt signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Smartt started at quarterback for Old Dominion in 2019, but he was converted to a wide receiver and caught 17 balls for 177 yards in eight games last season. He also chipped in on special teams, returning five kicks for 120 yards. Due to his 6-foot-4, 232-pound frame, Smartt is expected to compete for a spot on the Chargers at tight end. |
|
Inks deal with Chargers
Sun, May 1, 2022, 4:54 PM
Peters signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Peters was a three-year starter at Illinois and played in nine games last season, connecting on 91 of 169 pass attempts for 1,170 yards, with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. He most likely will be competing with Easton Stick, a 2019 fifth-round selection of the Chargers, for third-string quarterback duties next season. |
|
Heads to LA
Sun, May 1, 2022, 4:46 PM
Marks signed with the Chargers as undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Marks appeared in 10 games for the University of Buffalo last season, getting 108 carries for 414 yards and five touchdowns. It was a disappointing season for Marks, who was hampered by a lower-leg injury. Marks will compete with fellow undrafted free agent signee Leddie Brown for a spot in the Chargers backfield after the team retained Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree while also adding Isaiah Spiller in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft. |
|
Gets chance with Bolts
Sun, May 1, 2022, 4:40 PM
Krommenhoek signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Krommenhoek appeared in eight games for USC last season, bringing in 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. He'll have a chance to earn a roster spot and provide depth at tight end for the Chargers, who bring back Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre' McKitty, Hunter Kampmoyer -- who spent last season on the practice squad -- and fellow undrafted free agent Stone Smartt. |
|
Headed to LA
Sun, May 1, 2022, 4:29 PM
Brown signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Brown ran 223 times for 1,065 yards and 13 touchdowns for West Virginia last year, which was his second straight 1,000-yard season. He tacked on 36 receptions for 217 yards and another touchdown as well. Brown will compete with fellow undrafted free agent signing Kevin Marks for a spot in the Chargers backfield, which retained Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree, while also adding Isaiah Spiller in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft. |
|
Joins Chargers
Sun, May 1, 2022, 4:20 PM
Bradford signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Analysis: Bradford caught 42 balls for 631 yards and 5 touchdowns for Oregon State last season in 13 contests. He also contributed 100 yards on 11 punt returns, a role he played throughout his time with the Beavers. Bradford will have an uphill battle earning a role on the Chargers, who already have Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton and Joshua Palmer with established roles and also added DeAndre Carter this offseason. |
|
Lands in Los Angeles
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 6:02 PM
The Chargers selected Brown in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 260th overall.
Analysis: Horvath is a bit of a unique prospect given his 4.60 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds. The Chargers don't typically use a fullback in their base offense so it's possible the redshirt senior, who compiled 1,181 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over the past three seasons with Purdue, could actually operate as the team's short-yardage thumper. Either way, it seems unlikely Horvath will see enough carries to earn fantasy value early on. |
|
Drafted by Los Angeles
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 5:03 PM
The Chargers selected Leonard in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 236th overall.
Analysis: Leonard posted a 4.37 40-yard dash, but his short-end speed lagged behind a number of other draftable secondary pieces. The Ole Miss product could be an excellent special teams gunner for a Chargers special teams unit that struggled at times throughout 2021. |
|
Bolts to Los Angeles
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 4:11 PM
The Chargers selected Taylor in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 214th overall.
Analysis: Taylor was a two-year starter at Wake Forest who played in Winston-Salem for five years thanks to the NCAA's blanket waiver for the 2020 season. He had six career interceptions and ran a kickoff back for a touchdown in 2021. Taylor ran a 4.46 in the 40 at his pro day and will likely make the roster through his special teams skill. |
|
Headed west to Los Angeles
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 3:25 PM
The Chargers selected Salyer in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 195th overall.
Analysis: Salyer is a total mauler at 6-foot-3, 321 pounds with long arms and an abundance of strength, and he has a variety of offensive line experience after playing multiple spots at Georgia. Salyer might be a bit athletically limited, certainly by tackle standards, but he gives the Chargers a potential anchor at guard. |
|
Moves to Los Angeles
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 1:46 PM
The Chargers selected Ogbonnia in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 160th overall.
Analysis: The Chargers are betting on Ogbonnia's size (6-foot-4, 323 pounds) making him a quality run stopper, but the UCLA product tended to play too upright at the line of scrimmage to make much of an impact in that regard during his college career. Expect the fifth-round pick to be a rotational piece in the interior defensive line along with offseason free-agent additions Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. |
|
Excellent landing spot with LA
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:10 PM
The Chargers selected Spiller (groin) in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 123rd overall.
Analysis: The Chargers didn't have many needs entering the 2022 NFL Draft, but the selection of Spiller shores up an obvious weak spot on the roster. The Texas A&M product was billed as a possible second-round selection after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but after straining his adductor prior to the combine and subsequently running a 4.63 40-yard dash at his pro day, it became clear Spiller was not a high-round back that some projected. That being said, the junior plays much faster on tape, particularly once getting into the open field, and he's a plus receiver even for his size (6-foot, 217 pounds). Los Angeles desperately needed a second back to take some workload off Austin Ekeler, and it's entirely possible Spiller might already be a better backup than lackluster incumbents Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree. Kelley, Rountree and Justin Jackson combined for 137 carries and 28 targets last season as part of the jumbled timeshare behind Ekeler. Expect Spiller to immediately assume most of those opportunities with the possibility for additional workload should the Chargers make good on their promise to limit Ekeler's exposure somewhat in 2022. |
|
Bolts to Los Angeles
Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 9:23 PM
The Chargers selected Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 79th overall.
Analysis: Baylor's stellar defense continues to churn out pro prospects, as another Bear comes off the board on Day 2. Woods is an exceptional athlete with 4.36 speed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. He also had a 40-inch vertical at the combine. He projects as a safety but has the size and speed to handle cornerback duties. |
|
Bolts to Los Angeles
Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 9:10 PM
The Chargers selected Johnson in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 17th overall.
Analysis: Los Angeles continues to protect its investment in Justin Herbert by adding to its offensive line. Johnson was considered by many to be the best guard prospect in this class. The Boston College product is a stout and sturdy people-mover with impressive workout metrics as he tested above the 90th percentile in multiple events at the combine, including his jumps and shuttle. |
|
Signing with Chargers
Tue, Apr 26, 2022, 4:19 PM
Clapp signed a contract with the Chargers on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Clapp should help provide Los Angeles with much-needed depth as a versatile veteran with experience at multiple positions along the offensive line. The 2018 seventh-round selection has spent time at guard, center and as an extra offensive lineman in jumbo packages over his first four seasons with the Saints, appearing in 34 games with seven starts over this span. |
|
Likely out for OTAs
Mon, Apr 25, 2022, 2:55 PM
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said Murray (ankle) likely will miss all of OTAs, and the linebacker's status for the start of training camp currently is unknown, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: Murray dealt with an ankle issue last preseason and later spent six weeks on injured reserve due to another ankle issue, but he opted to avoid surgery initially. However, after experiencing discomfort trying to ramp up his offseason activities, the 2020 first-round pick underwent a procedure on his left ankle at the beginning of April to address the lingering issues. After registering 107 stops during his rookie campaign, Murray posted just 31 tackles across 11 appearances last year. A healthy Murray could be a difference maker for the Chargers defense, which struggled mightily against the run in 2021. |
Connect With Us:
