For the first time in many years, the Chargers do not have a set QB with the team parting with longtime starter Phillip Rivers.
The team only won five games last season but they still have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball but who will be under center this season?
Odds to win AFC West: +935
Odds to win AFC: +1500
Odds to win Super Bowl: +3500
Key Additions: The Chargers used the sixth pick in the draft to take QB Justin Herbert, who has a cannot for an arm and all the physical tools. They also picked up CB Chris Harris and bolstered the offensive line with the additions of Trai Turner and Brian Balaga.
Key Losses: Rivers’ long tenure with the Chargers is over signing in the off-season with the Colts. The team also lost starters RB Melvin Gordon, T Russell Okung, and Thomas Davis, who led the team in tackles last season.
Season Preview
A lot is new with the Chargers this season with a new stadium, new uniforms, and a new starting QB. After the team allowed Rivers to walk the main talk of the team was who will run them this season?
The team drafted the rocket-armed Herbert with the sixth pick, but GM Tom Telesco and coach Anthony Lynn have stated that journeyman Tyrod Taylor will be the Week 1 starter.
Whoever starts under center for the Bolts inherits an offense that has weapons. The top four pass-catchers from last season are all back including Keenan Allen and Mike Evans, who both had over 1,000 receiving yards last season.
L.A. placed the franchise tag in the off-season on emerging star TE Hunter Henry, so Taylor or Herbert will have big-time targets. On top of that, the offensive line was upgraded in the off-season with the additions of Turner and Balaga.
Not only did t4he Chargers move on from Rovers but also did not give a deal to RB Melvin Gordon, who held out for the first few games of last season, and is now with the division rival Broncos.
Austin Ekeler took advantage of Gordon’s situation by showing he could be the back of the future for L.A. and last season rushed for 557 yards averaging 4.2 yards per carry and also caught 92 passed for 993 receiving yards.
The Chargers also have a lot of talent on defense and that unit ranked sixth in the league last season. LB Joey Bosa is a beast up front and SS Derwin James is one of the best in the game but only played five games due to injury last season.
The secondary was really hit hard by injuries last season and the defense was on the field often with Rivers being a turnover machine. The D will need to stay healthy and play well this season no matter who is under center.
This is especially the case since the QB situation is still up in the air. Taylor has shown he can be a starter and Herbert has a lot of talent and a huge arm but is a rookie that many see as not being NFL ready.
The Bolts have talent but also play in the tough AFC West with the defending champion Chiefs.
L.A. opens the season on the road to face #1 pick Joe Burrow and the Bengals and then in two of their next three games facing the Chiefs and Bucs with some guy named Tom Brady.
Prediction: I think Taylor will be solid as in the interim QB while Herbert waits in the wings. He has the weapons and the team has a legit defense and I see the Chargers bouncing back and making the playoffs as a Wild Card team.