Latest news with #JustinHerbert
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
PFF grades for the Chargers' projected offensive starters
PFF grades for the Chargers' projected offensive starters The Chargers invested in the offensive side of the ball this offseason, acquiring more weapons for Justin Herbert and adding the hulking Mekhi Becton to improve the running game, which now features rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris. To look ahead to the upcoming season, here is a look at the team's projected starting offense and how they graded out last season, per Pro Football Focus. QB Justin Herbert (91.2) RB Omarion Hampton (88.4*) RB Najee Harris (77.2) WR Ladd McConkey (84.3) WR Mike Williams (58.8) WR Tre Harris (89.7*) TE Will Dissly (67.1) LT Rashawn Slater (90.9) LG Zion Johnson (64.4) C Bradley Bozeman (61.0) RG Mekhi Becton (70.8)
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Los Angeles Chargers Keeping An Eye Out For Tackle Rashawn Slater
I Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater (70), the top player along the team's offensive ... More line, is boycotting L.A.'s voluntary workouts as he seeks a multi-year deal to replace the final year of his rookie contact. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko) It's just a voluntary series of off-season workouts, so Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater's absence isn't big news. Yet. But maybe it transforms into something bigger, as the massive Slater is entrusted with protecting quarterback Justin Herbert's blindside and is in need of a contract upgrade. Slater, a two-time Pro Bowler, is scheduled to earn $19.04 million this season after L.A. picked up the fifth-year option of his $35.6 million rookie deal, according to Over The Cap. But the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Slater, a former first-round selection, has outplayed his contract and is possibly making a statement by skipping practices. Attending the workouts are at the player's choosing, but not participating is something Slater has never chosen to do previously. The Chargers' mid-June minicamp is mandatory and if Slater stiff-arms those, it would not only raise a red flag but cost him more than $92,000 in fines. Slater is among the few anchors of an offensive line that the Chargers are seeking to improve. It was exposed, especially along the interior, when L.A. was eliminated by the Houston Texans in last season's first round of the playoffs. The edges are set with Slater and Joe Alt at right tackle. Although Alt struggled as well in the playoff loss, his inefficiency was attributed more to him being a rookie rather than his lack of skills. The dearth of urgency regarding Slater's contract situation might be an organizational strategy. It's rare that the Chargers reward a player with his second contract, or extension, until the last minute. They followed that approach with Herbert, safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Joey Bosa. When July's training-camp clock gets close to midnight, that's usually when L.A. strikes deals with its players. The Chargers have an offensive line in motion after signing free-agent Mekhi Becton to play right guard. That could move guard Zion Johnson to center, a position he's never played in college or the NFL, and possibly have a number of players – Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer, Bradley Bozeman, Andre James and others competing for the left guard position. Then again, if the experiment to have Johnson at center implodes, Bozeman or James could land there, with the Chargers inserting someone at left guard. It's not a plug-and-play situation at the tackle spots manned by Slater, 26, and Alt, a stellar second-year pro. The issue is giving Slater a contract which matches his production. Slater's average annual salary of $4.1 million ranks 30th among left tackles. The leader is Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers, with a $27.5 million average per year on an $82.6 million pact. Andrew Thomas of the New York Giants is the left tackle with the largest contract, a five-year, $117.5 million agreement which came with a $67 million guarantee. Slater's cap hit zoomed from $5.2 million last year to $19.04 this season, which is also a motivating factor to work out a long-term deal to soften that blow.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Los Angeles Chargers 2025 win total futures, over/under and odds
Los Angeles Chargers 2025 win total futures, over/under and odds A playoff berth is a possibility for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, based on their win total over/under of 9.5. Chargers: Win total odds & over/under NFL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 4:01 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Win total over/under: 9.5 9.5 Over 9.5 wins payout: -110 -110 Under 9.5 wins payout: -110 Chargers 2025 schedule Get Chargers tickets at StubHub! Chargers 2024 splits The Chargers finished 11-6 last season and made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the Wild Card round. Los Angeles finished 11-2 in games it was listed as the moneyline favorite last season (winning 84.6% of those games). Last season, the Bolts were listed as the underdog in four games and failed to win any of those contests. LA posted a 5-3 record at home and was 6-3 away last year. In one-possession games, the Chargers were 4-4. But they had zero wins in games decided by a field goal or less (0-2). Chargers 2024 player stats In 17 games last year, Justin Herbert passed for 3,870 yards (227.6 per game), with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions, and a completion percentage of 65.9%. In addition, Herbert ran for 306 yards and two TDs. Najee Harris ran for 1,043 yards (61.4 per game) and six touchdowns in 17 games for the Steelers last season. Harris also had 36 receptions for 283 yards and zero TDs. In 16 games a season ago, Ladd McConkey had 82 receptions for 1,149 yards (71.8 per game) and seven touchdowns. Quentin Johnston had 55 catches for 711 yards (47.4 per game) and eight touchdowns in 15 games. Get Chargers tickets at StubHub!
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How to Buy Los Angeles Chargers Chubbies Swim Trunks: Shop NFL Chubbies Collection
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The NFL has teamed up with Chubbies to create the NFL Collection, which includes Los Angeles Chargers swim trunks designed to represent your favorite team. NFL Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, time the NFL partners with other established brands to create new products, it is always a massive hit with the fans. This collaboration is no different, and could be one of the best NFL merchandise releases of the 2025 year. Chubbies is one of the most trusted and popular apparel brands across the country. They make some of the most comfortable swim trunks, shorts, t-shirts, and jackets on the market. Add some unique Los Angeles Chargers designs to it, and that is a recipe for success. The designs feature the Los Angeles Chargers logo and other images representing the city and team. A more generic version of the swim trunks is also available for a cleaner, more official look. The Chubbies NFL Collection is now available for fans. Click on any of the images or links to order your Los Angeles Chargers gear now. Place your order before it is too late, as these will be in high demand. Fanatics has you covered with officially licensed Chubbies X NFL gear. SHOP: Los Angeles Chargers Chubbies x NFL Collection NFL Los Angeles Chargers Chubbies The Neon 5.5" Classic Lined Swim Trunks - Black Los Angeles Chargers Chubbies The Neon 5.5" Classic Lined Swim Trunks - Black Fanatics SHOP: Los Angeles Chargers Chubbies x NFL Collection If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Who is most important to the Chargers' success in 2025? Counting down the top 10
Welcome to Part 2 of my rankings of the 20 players most important to the Los Angeles Chargers' success in 2025. Part 1 ran earlier this week, counting down players 20 to 11. Below is the top 10. A quick reminder: These are not necessarily the 20 best players on the Chargers roster. Instead, these are the 20 players I think will have the biggest impact on how the Chargers perform this season. It is an exercise more geared toward finding the pressure points of the roster. Where do the Chargers need to see improvement? Who are they relying on? Where can they least afford injuries or performance regression? Earlier this month, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Johnson will be starting at one of two positions in 2025 — left guard or center. During Tuesday's on-field work, Johnson was snapping to Justin Herbert as the center in drills. He has started at left guard the past two seasons. He was the Chargers' starting right guard as a rookie in 2022. Johnson has not played center in the NFL. He did not play center in college. He did work at center in the Senior Bowl during the 2022 pre-draft process. Advertisement Despite Johnson's lack of experience, the Chargers believe the 2022 first-round pick has potential upside as a center. The range of outcomes here are pretty wide, and that is a big reason Johnson cracks the top 10. He could move to center, play at a really high level and solve the Chargers' hole at the position for a decade. He could fail in the move, stay at left guard and remain the functional yet frustratingly inconsistent player he has been so far in his NFL career. Those are two very different worlds and could mean very different things for how the Chargers offensive line comes together. The Chargers did not pick up Johnson's fifth-year option for 2026, so he is on the final year of his contract. Cam Hart and Still both make our list. Both cornerbacks were fifth-round picks in 2024. Still gets a higher ranking because he is more versatile than Hart, who came in at No. 16. While Hart is an outside-only corner, Still showed as a rookie that he can play inside and outside. That flexibility is integral to the Chargers defense. When Derwin James Jr. plays in the slot, Still can play on the outside. When James is at safety, Still can take over in the slot and provide playmaking. Still has tremendous instincts in zone coverage, and that made him an ideal fit in coordinator Jesse Minter's defense, as evidenced by his 10 passes defended, including four interceptions. The Chargers will need Still's versatility and ball production to replicate their defensive output from 2024. The Chargers drafted Alt with the No. 5 pick last year and he lived up to his draft position as a rookie. He quickly established himself as one of the best young linemen in football. He was remarkably consistent for a player of his age. He did not turn 22 until February. And the question now is: How good can Alt become? He had welcome-to-the-NFL moments against T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, two the league's best edge rushers. That is expected of any rookie. Alt also played one of his worst games of the season in the playoff loss at the Houston Texans. I am convinced that will only fuel Alt to even greater heights. 'Always things to improve in the run and the pass,' Alt said the day after that loss. 'I take those things, along with all my notes from other games, and those are things I'm really going to hone in on as I go into this offseason. Making sure I try to minimize those things by going back to work, taking it a day at a time and just improving those things so you don't have this feeling in your mouth anymore.' Alt was already really good as a rookie. He has a chance to etch his name firmly among the best right tackles in the game. This mentality is a big part of that. Slater and Alt form one of the best tackle duos in the league, and tackle play is always going to be a big driver in team success. These two are pretty much interchangeable in our rankings, but Slater protects Justin Herbert's blindside. Slater battled injuries in 2023, and that affected his play. He bounced back to put together a stellar season in 2024, especially in pass protection. Slater has proved himself as one of the elite left tackles in football. Four years into his career, he has earned a top-of-the-market extension. That extension is not done yet, though. Slater is under contract for this season on his fifth-year option. I still expect a deal to get done before the end of training camp. The Chargers have historically operated this way with big second contracts. Herbert signed his long-term extension on July 25, 2023. James signed his long-term extension on Aug. 17, 2022. Joey Bosa signed his long-term extension on July 28, 2020. Advertisement Henley had a breakout season in 2024 and is clearly the Chargers' best linebacker. He is a three-down player. He can impact the run game. He is a natural in coverage, both in man and zone. He can blitz and get after the quarterback. And Henley really came into his own as the signal caller of the defense, wearing the green dot while relaying the play calls to his teammates. He still has room to grow. He was a difference-making starter last season. This year, if he continues on the same trajectory, he could earn Pro Bowl or even All-Pro honors. I think we will see a considerable uptick in Henley's counting-stats production, which should help his cause in getting more national attention. He had one sack and one interception last season. He had chances for more in both categories that he just missed. The Chargers offensive line will go as Becton goes. I believe that is more so the case for Becton than any other player in the room. The Chargers signed Becton in free agency to be their clearly defined upgrade on the interior offensive line. If he plays at the level he did for the Philadelphia Eagles last season en route to a Super Bowl, Becton should elevate the interior as a whole, even if they have two holdover starters in Johnson, Bradley Bozeman or Trey Pipkins III. How many games will Becton play? And how will he perform when he is no longer playing for Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland? Those are the questions I keep coming back to. He has a checkered injury history with his right knee. He played 18 games for the Eagles last season between the regular season and playoffs, his first year starting at guard. Was that the aberration? Or will the Chargers get similar availability from Becton? Becton has been tabbed as the solution to one of the biggest weaknesses on the team last year. That puts him into our top five. McConkey set multiple rookie receiving records last season, and he will enter 2025 as Herbert's primary target. The Chargers added passing-game threats across the roster this offseason: Tre Harris, Mike Williams and KeAndre Lambert-Smith on the outside; Oronde Gadsden II and Tyler Conklin at tight end; Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris out of the backfield. They got more explosive and deeper with these additions. They also ensured that some defensive attention would be forced away from McConkey, who operates most often and effectively out of the slot. McConkey set rookie records while being Herbert's only reliable option. What will he accomplish when there are other players on the field who can stress defenses in the passing game, particularly down the field? James had a resurgent season in 2024 under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He rediscovered his love for the game and the physical, downhill, relentless play style that made him one of the league's rising stars early in his career. Minter devised an ideal role for James. He got more snaps closer to the line of scrimmage, where he could impact the game as a blitzer, make plays in the run game and match up in press coverage on opposing tight ends. The result was James playing like James again, and the Chargers were a top 10 defense. James has to continue playing this way for the Chargers to be that level of defense in 2025. One thing I will be watching: Safeties coach Chris O'Leary departed this offseason to return to the college ranks. He was replaced by Adam Fuller. O'Leary was instrumental in James' rebound, and Fuller has big shoes to fill. Mack re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year deal at the start of free agency. He has one goal and one goal only: winning a Super Bowl. Mack turned 34 in February. He will be even more important to this defense now that Bosa is gone. The Chargers cut Bosa in March, and he signed with the Buffalo Bills. At the combine in February, GM Joe Hortiz said, 'Khalil's got more than one year left in his body if he wants to do it.' Mack did battled multiple groin strains last season that affected his play. He was still an elite run defender. He was not quite as good as a pass rusher compared to 2023, when he had 17 sacks. The room is not the same without Bosa, and if edge rusher is going to continue being a strength of the team, Mack has to remain a dominant player. I would never doubt him. Advertisement Despite all his accomplishments in the NFL so far, Herbert still does not have a playoff win. And that will inevitably hang over his head until he gets back there and gets another chance. His two playoff appearances include a blown 27-0 lead and a four-interception performance that amounted to the worst game of his career given the stakes. First and foremost this season, Herbert has to stay healthy. He missed virtually all of training camp in 2024 with a plantar fascia injury. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2. He had a thigh contusion and another ankle sprain later in the season. If the Chargers are going to contend this year with a much tougher schedule, they need Herbert on the field. It starts there. No player is more important to the Chargers' success than their QB1. (Top photos of Justin Herbert and Khalil Mack: Tim Warner and Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
