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2024 Los Angeles Chargers 53-man roster projection

El Segundo, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium.

The 2024 season marks a new era for the Chargers, with a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) and general manager (Joe Hortiz), a new facility and an offensive overhaul that saw the departures of some of the Chargers' most popular players.

L.A. will have new starters at receiver, running back and tight end, while its defense -- which was the team's Achilles heel last season -- returns almost all of its starters, including outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, who restructured their deals in hopes of winning a championship.

Here is the 53-man roster projection as the Chargers open training camp:

QUARTERBACKS (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Herbert had started 62 consecutive games, which was the second-longest active streak by a quarterback, before a broken right index finger fracture ended his season in Week 14 last year. Stick was formidable in four starts with the Chargers, earning him a new contract from Hortiz. Last season was the first time Herbert missed a game in the NFL, and his durability should make the Chargers comfortable keeping only two quarterbacks.


RUNNING BACKS (3): J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Kimani Vidal

Edwards and Dobbins were the opening day top backs for Jim Harbaugh's brother, John, in Baltimore last season, and the Chargers are hoping to have some of the Ravens' rushing prowess with the pairing in L.A. Dobbins has been one of the league's best backs when healthy but missed 42 of the Ravens' past 51 games, including the final 16 last season because of a torn Achilles.


FULLBACKS (1): Ben Mason

Mason played under Jim Harbaugh for four seasons at Michigan. He was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round in 2021.


WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice, Cornelius Johnson

Outside of Chark, who is the only receiver in this group to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season, this corps is inexperienced and unproven. Palmer has shown the most upside, sitting behind Mike Williams and Keenan Allen for the past three seasons. He's had big moments, such as a five-catch, 133-yard game in Week 7 last season against Kansas City. For this team to be competitive, the Chargers will need Palmer, and top picks McConkey and Johnston, to be legitimate threats against defenses.


TIGHT ENDS (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham Jr.

Hurst and Dissly give the Chargers the powerful blockers this offense has lacked at the tight end position and will be essential pieces to the rushing offense. Hurst is also a formidable pass-catcher, with a career-high of 571 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. Hurst and Parham give Herbert reliable pass-catching options at tight end.


OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins, Rashawn Slater, Bradley Bozeman, Zion Johnson, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Brenden Jaimes, Alex Leatherwood

This is the Chargers' most important unit. After selecting Alt with the No. 5 pick, Harbaugh scoffed at questions about the Chargers not selecting an offensive weapon, telling reporters, "Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons." Harbaugh's teams have consistently won with feared rushing offenses, and it will start with this group, which appears to be solidified with Alt (RT), Pipkins (RG), Bozeman (C), Johnson (LG) and Slater (LT).


DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): Morgan Fox, Poona Ford, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia, Christopher Hinton, Justin Eboigbe

Fox is the most experienced of the group with seven seasons under his belt, just ahead of Ford's six. Fox is the best at sacking quarterbacks in this group: He has 12 sacks over the past two seasons, the most in a two-season span in his career and more than any other player in this group has had over two seasons. Fox and Ford will likely lead the way as the others compete for reps. Matlock took many reps on special teams in minicamp -- his quickness and size could make him a valuable player with the league's new format.


LINEBACKERS (9): Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Junior Colson, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree, Tuli Tuipulotu, Troy Dye

The Chargers have one of the best outside linebacker pairings in the NFL with Mack and Bosa, though the caveat is Bosa's health. He has played just 14 games over the last two seasons. Inside linebacker, meanwhile, has been a weak spot for this defense in recent seasons. The Chargers expect Henley, a third-round pick last season, to fill a larger role this year with the veteran Perryman as his running mate.


CORNERBACKS (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja'Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart

This group was perhaps the team's weakest last season, allowing the second-most passing yards in the NFL (4,580). The team struggled to find a consistent starter at outside corner opposite of Samuel. The team tried J.C. Jackson, Michael Davis, and eventually Leonard. None of the combinations worked, and the Chargers signed Fulton, a former Tennessee Titans cornerback who they hope will be the reliable starter they need.


SAFETIES (4): Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, Tony Jefferson

With Gilman and James, the Chargers feel that they potentially have the best safety pairing in the league. For that to be true, the team will need James to return to playing at the level that made him a first-team All-Pro after an inconsistent 2023. The battle for the third safety spot will be crucial for the Chargers, as James will likely be deployed as an edge rusher or in the slot depending on the coverage, meaning that Jefferson or Finley will see significant snaps at deep safety.


SPECIALISTS (3): Cameron Dicker (K), JK Scott (P), Josh Harris (LS)

Special teams was the Chargers' most consistent group last season. Scott's punting essentially won the Chargers a Week 12 game against the New England Patriots last season, as he put seven punts inside the 20-yard line. Dicker set the record for the most 50-plus yard field goals made last season with seven.