Players and coaches have had more than a month off to rest up for the upcoming grind, as players report to Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA this week.
The Chargers return nearly the majority of the players from last season, but they will have a few new faces. Some of these rookies have a chance to skyrocket up the depth chart with strong showings within the next month.
Here are four first-year players that should make a name for themselves at training camp and could have an impact in 2019:
DT Jerry Tillery
The Chargers had a big need along the interior part of the defensive line and they felt like Tillery was the perfect fit, taking him early on with the No. 28 overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft.
All eyes will be on him since he wasn’t able to partake in minicamp or OTAs as he was recovering a shoulder surgery to fix up a torn labrum he sustained during his senior season. He will look to secure a starting spot as the three-technique over Justin Jones.
Tillery has all the physical and athletic tools. He moves like a defensive end and displays the strength of a nose tackle. When completely healthy, his presence should give the pass rush an extra boost and he should be a contributor in stopping the run.
FS Nasir Adderley
The Chargers needed a proven free safety. They were able to see arguably the best one in the class fall to them in the second-round with the No. 60 overall selection. Adderley had been pegged to Los Angeles with the No. 28 pick.
Adderley was hardly a participant in any of the team’s spring practices as he suffered an undisclosed injury early on. His presence is going to certainly garner the attention of many since he is a fan-favorite to earn the starting job.
It won’t be a gimme for the former Delaware product as he will have to fend off Rayshawn Jenkins and Jaylen Watkins, who will also be in contention. His natural athletic ability and instincts, movement and ball skills are far more superior, which should help his case for the No. 1 free safety on the depth chart.
LB Drue Tranquill
Selected in the fourth-round with the No. 130 overall selection, Tranquill had everything that the Chargers needed to help add some depth to a positional group that took a big hit due to injuries in 2018.
Tranquill, who was a standout in the spring, plays with the football intelligence, toughness and offers the versatility to play all three linebacker spots that Los Angeles covets at the position.
It’ll be a challenging road for Tranquill to crack the starting lineup early on, but there’s a chance he shoots up the depth chart in the summer. L.A. favors sub-packages with there being a possibility of an injury, it makes a favorable opportunity that we can see him on the field sooner than later in 2019.
DT Cortez Broughton
Addressing the interior part of the defensive line was one of the main focuses coming into the draft. The Chargers took Tillery right off the bat with its first-round selection and waited until its last pick to snag Broughton.
Broughton is an athletic defensive tackle who wins with a quick first step and a powerful upper or lower half to cause pressure. He needs some polish by using his hands more to get together a game plan as opposed to relying purely on initial quickness.
Assuming Los Angeles keeps four interior defenders on the roster, he will have to beat out T.Y. McGill and Reggie Howard for the final spot. If he makes the 53-man roster, he should be an immediate rotational player and key interior pass-rusher in his first season.
