If you read my pre-draft 2025 team preview of the Los Angeles Chargers you saw that I felt they needed to improve offensively as they were already set defensively leading the league in points allowed this past season. They, however, lacked explosion offensively due to certain weak spots from a personnel standpoint along with Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh still being in just their first year together. I will go into detail here regarding how the offense of the Los Angeles Chargers projects to look like heading into next season.
As I said in my previous article on the Chargers heading into the 2025 season, they were still a solid respectable offensive team that however lacked consistency at times and lacked explosion in totality. The major offensive statistics/metrics for the Los Angeles Chargers this past 2024 season can be found below.
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Key Regular Season Offensive Metrics
11th in points per game
20th in yards per game
12th in overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above data the Chargers were perhaps just a slightly above average offensive team this past season. The lack of explosion and consistency from an offensive standpoint directly lead to the Chargers season ending in the first year of the Harbaugh-Herbert era. As the team was only able to muster 12 points in a wild card round loss to the Texans on the road. As stated previously, much of the offensive concerns for the Chargers this past season stemmed from head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert, being in only their first year together. Not to mention Jim Harbaugh making his return to the NFL for the first time in a decade and offensive coordinator Greg Roman being in his first year with the Chargers as well. Much of the lack of cohesion on the offensive coaching staff will naturally be alleviated with Harbaugh/Roman going into year 2 with the Chargers/Herbert. But many of the offensive concerns also stemmed from questionable personnel in spots offensively, which the Chargers front office has already addressed this offseason cycle. Below I will analyze the Chargers offensive personnel from the 2024 season and also heading into the 2025 season as well. I have first listed each player in each unit for the Chargers offensively in 2024. With each player in that regard, I have included the offense grade that the player was assigned by Pro Football Focus over the course of the 2024 season, as well as my own subjective grade of the player that indicates how strong of a player, I feel he is in totality outside of just the 2024 season. I have also done the same with all the players the Chargers are projected to field offensively heading into the 2025 season.
Chargers 2024 Starting Offensive Linemen
LT – Rashawn Slater – (2/87) offense grade in 2024 over 903 snaps, A-
LG – Zion Johnson – (34/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1046 snaps, C+ to B-
C – Bradley Bozeman – (31/43) offense grade in 2024 over 1056 snaps, C+ to B-
RG – Trey Pipkins III – (58/83) offense grade in 2024 over 838 snaps, C
RT – Joe Alt – (20/87) offense grade in 2024 over 1010 snaps, B+
Chargers 2024 Reserve Offensive Linemen
T – Foster Sarell – (74/87) offense grade in 2024 over 40 snaps
G – Jamaree Salyer – (60/83) offense grade in 2024 over 339 snaps
G – Jordan McFadden – 1 snap in 2024
G – Sam Mustipher – (76/83) offense grade in 2024 over 105 snaps
C – Brenden Jaimes – 10 snaps in 2024
Chargers 2024 Offensive Line Metrics
16th in pass blocking efficiency
8th in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
21st in run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
19th in sacks allowed
As you can see from the final set of data the Chargers were pretty average to mediocre from an offensive line standpoint across the board this past season. If you reference the offensive line personnel of the Chargers from this past season, you can see they had very strong tackle play but a very weak interior offensive line. Heading into next season the Chargers can expect to improve from an offensive line standpoint for multiple reasons. Firstly, 2024 first rounder Joe Alt, although he had a very strong rookie season, was certainly not in the full flow of things in his first NFL season. The Chargers can expect him to take a big step forward heading into his second NFL season and rank among the best tackles in the NFL. The Chargers have made one key addition to their offensive line in signing former Eagles guard Mekhi Becton. Becton played tackle in his first three seasons in the NFL and was closer to average in his production. Becton played guard for the first time in the 2024 season for the Eagles and had a very strong season in year 1 as a guard. If he can sustain that level of play or better yet improve upon that level of play going into year 2 playing guard in the NFL, it would bode the Chargers well. The Chargers also made another key offseason offensive line acquisition signing former Raiders offensive lineman Andre James. The Chargers still need help from an interior offensive line standpoint and James, although he is currently slated to be a reserve, will provide an additional boost for the team there. The projected 2025 rendition of the Chargers offensive line can be found below.
Projected 2025 Chargers Offensive Line Starters
LT – Rashawn Slater – (2/87) offense grade in 2024 over 903 snaps, A-
LG – Bradley Bozeman – (31/43) offense grade in 2024 over 1056 snaps, C+ to B-
C – Zion Johnson – (34/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1046 snaps, C+ to B-
RG – Mekhi Becton – (17/83) offense grade in 2024 over 903 snaps, B
RT – Joe Alt – (20/87) offense grade in 2024 over 1010 snaps, B+
Projected 2025 Chargers Offensive Line Reserves
T – Branson Taylor – 6th round 2025
G – Karsen Barnhart – UDFA 2024, 0 career snaps
C – Andre James – C+ to B-
G – Jamaree Salyer – C
T – Trey Pipkins – C
T – Corey Stewart – UDFA 2025
G – Nash Jones – UDFA 2025
C/G – Josh Kaltenberg – UDFA 2025
T – Savion Washington – UDFA 2025
T – Elijah Elliss – UDFA 2025
Heading into the 2025 season, the starting lineup for the Chargers on the offensive front is projected to remain the same outside of Mekhi Becton. The improvements that the Chargers can expect to see from the offensive front stem from the addition of Becton and Joe Alt improving in year 2. The combination of Slater, Becton, and Alt has the potential to be one of the premier trios of starting offensive lineman in the NFL. The remaining two starting spots on the offensive line still remain a concern however and the team is hopeful that Bradley Bozeman/Zion Johnson/Andre James and maybe some others can give them strong production. The Chargers by any stretch were an average to a mediocre offensive line this past season. I think factoring in all the above, i.e. Alt’s potential improvement and the addition of Becton, they can expect to be an above average unit but likely not more that next season. I have conducted a similar analysis of the remaining Chargers’ offensive personnel from the 2024 season and also heading into 2025 as well below.
2024 Chargers Running Backs
HB1 – JK Dobbins – (38/57) offense grade in 2024 over 534 snaps, C+ to B-
HB2 – Gus Edwards – (40/57) offense grade in 2024 over 222 snaps, B+ to A-
HB3 – Hassan Haskins – (56/57) offense grade in 2024 over 40 snaps, D to D+
HB4 – Kimani Vidal – (56/57) offense grade in 2024 over 49 snaps, D to D+
The Chargers running back room in 2024 was highlighted by two big names in JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards who really made a living putting up big numbers for the Baltimore Ravens. However, perhaps those two backs are overrated as the Ravens run conducive offense is the most ideal situation for running backs to possibly be in. Outside of that environment those two running backs have left much to be desired and their production outside of their time with the Ravens has been questionable. Both those backs were graded as below average this past season and perhaps outside of the run-conducive Ravens offense, they are just average caliber NFL running backs. But given their high-end production in their time with Baltimore, many including myself were tricked into thinking they were stars. The Chargers have since moved off both of those players this offseason cycle and have acquired two big name backs since to replace them. Najee Harris, now formerly of the Steelers, and Omarion Hampton, who was drafted in the first round of the 2025 draft by the Chargers. The acquisition of Najee Harris was essentially the opposite of the running back acquisitions the Chargers made the previous offseason. Harris was graded highly by Pro Football Focus in his time for the Steelers but was unable to put up strong numbers due to Pittsburgh being a subpar offensive team on a perennial basis that was inconducive for running backs to thrive and put up big numbers in. Najee Harris has hovered around 4.0 yards per attempt every season for his career which at face value is an indicator he is a mediocre caliber running back. However, Harris was graded in the top 25% of all running backs in terms of an offense grade according to Pro Football Focus for the past two seasons in a row now. Harris is also the only running back in the NFL to accumulate 1000+ rushing yards in four consecutive seasons and has never missed a game in four NFL seasons as well. As stated previously, the Steelers for the past several seasons have been one of the most unideal teams for an offensive player to thrive in. Perhaps as Harris is now placed with one of the most talented QBs in Justin Herbert and one of the smartest offensive minds in Jim Harbaugh, he can begin to emerge as a household name at running back in the NFL. Likewise, Omarion Hampton was almost universally regarded as one of the top two running back prospects in this year’s draft. The combination of Harris and Hampton out of the backfield has what it takes to be one of the premier running back tandems in the NFL next season. The projected running back lineup for the Los Angeles Chargers heading into 2025 can be found below.
Projected 2025 Chargers Running Backs
HB1 – Najee Harris – B to B+
HB2 – Omarion Hampton – 2025 first rounder
HB3 – Hassan Haskins – D to D+
HB4 – Kimani Vidal – D to D+
If Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton can play to their full potential with the Chargers having potentially an above average offensive line along with Jim Harbaugh being one of the premier head coaches in regards to run scheming, the Chargers outside of teams with dual threat QBs such as the Eagles, Bills, and Ravens, project to be as good of a running team as there is in the NFL. Quarterback Justin Herbert is an underrated athlete who can do damage in the ground game from time to time as well. Not to mention the presence of backup QB Trey Lance who is a dual threat player at the QB spot who can perhaps be used in running packages and/or could do damage in the ground game if he was required to play regularly for the team at QB. A concern for the Chargers however is the lack of capable #3 and #4 halfbacks as Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal have not proven to be NFL caliber players as of yet. But given how strong the first two backs project to be, along with Najee Harris being perhaps the most durable running back in the NFL, perhaps it is not a big concern. I have conducted a similar analysis of the Chargers wide receivers just as I did for the offensive line and running backs which can be found below.
2024 Chargers Wide Receivers
WR – Ladd McConkey – (19/110) offense grade in 2024 in 734 snaps, B+
WR – Quentin Johnston – (54/110) offense grade in 2024 in 655 snaps, C+
WR – Joshua Palmer – (64/110) offense grade in 2024 in 616 snaps, C
WR – Simi Fehoko – (106/110) offense grade in 2024 in 244 snaps, D+
WR – Derius Davis – (26/110) offense grade in 2024 in 148 snaps, B to B-
WR – Jalen Reagor – (105/110) offense grade in 2024 in 138 snaps, D+ to C-
WR – DJ Chark Jr – (107/110) offense grade in 2024 in 105 snaps, C+
WR – Dez Fitzpatrick – only 9 snaps in 2024, D+
WR – Laviska Shenault – only 7 snaps in 2024, C+ to B-
WR – Jaylen Johnson – only 1 snap in 2024, 0 career receptions, UDFA 2024
WR – Brenden Rice – only 3 snaps in 2024, 0 career receptions, 7th round 2024
The Chargers this past season outside of Ladd McConkey struggled from a wide receiving standpoint. McConkey had a very strong rookie season and projects to be a standout slot receiver in the NFL for years to come. Outside of McConkey, the team, however, did not see another wide out give them consistently strong production. Quentin Johnston, who was a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has had a hit and miss career thus far. Johnston underwhelmed as a rookie but improved upon his first year this past season for the Chargers. Johnston this past season ranked slightly above average in terms of an offense grade among qualified wide outs but did not give the team anything special from a wide receiver standpoint to complement McConkey. Derius Davis is talented for the Chargers but struggled with injuries this past season. DJ Chark Jr is also talented but struggled with injuries for the Chargers as well. Heading into next season, 2024 2nd round rookie Ladd McConkey is in line to emerge as perhaps the premier slot receiver in the league given his high draft standing and his exceptional rookie season. 2023 first round pick Quentin Johnston has not lived up to expectations thus far for the Chargers but still noticeably improved from year 1 to year 2 in the NFL. Johnston was still graded as above average among qualified wide receivers this past season as well. As aforementioned, Derius Davis and DJ Chark are productive when healthy but both failed to consistently stay healthy this past season. DJ Chark is no longer on the team as of now but Derius Davis who was the more talented out of the two remains on the team and will provide strong depth at wide receiver if he can stay healthy. The Chargers have made a few notable additions to their wide receiver unit this offseason as well, in resigning former standout Mike Williams and drafting rookie Tre Harris in the 2nd round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Mike Williams had a down year this past 2024 season playing for the Jets and Steelers and is now on the wrong side of thirty years old and has been known to struggle with injuries. However, Williams before the 2024 season when he was healthy and playing for the Chargers was consistently an above average to a well above average wide NFL wide out. If he can stay healthy and recapture some of his old form, he will provide a needed boost at wide receiver for the Chargers. Wide receiver Tre Harris was one of the top NFL receiving prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft and being drafted so high in the 2nd round, he certainly has the potential to add a good amount of juice to a Chargers receiving core that needs it. The Chargers projected 2025 wide receiver lineup can be found below.
Projected 2025 Chargers Wide Receivers
WR – Ladd McConkey – B+
WR – Quentin Johnston – C+
WR – Mike Williams – C+ to B-
WR – Tre Harris – 2025 second round pick
WR – Derius Davis – B to B-
WR – Keandre Lambert-Smith – 2025 5th rounder
WR – Jalen Reagor – D+ to C-
WR – Brenden Rice – 0 career receptions, 7th round 2024
WR – Jaylen Johnson – 0 career receptions, UDFA 2024
WR – Dez Fitzpatrick – D+
WR – Luke Grimm – UDFA 2025
WR – Dalevon Campbell – UDFA 2025
Heading into next season, the wide out unit will be anchored by McConkey and the team is hopeful that either Johnston, Williams, or Tre Harris can be a strong #2 wide out for them. All three of the players have high end talent, but as of now they are either too young, too inconsistent, or too old/injury prone. If just one of the three or perhaps if even Derius Davis can be on their A game, the Chargers will have a strong #2 wide out to complement McConkey. The Chargers wide receiver unit is very deep as of now as they have five separate players who are capable starters. I have conducted a similar analysis of the team’s tight end unit which can be found below.
2024 Chargers Tight Ends
TE – Will Dissly – (18/45) offense grade in 2024 in 540 snaps, B to B+
TE – Tucker Fisk – (29/45) offense grade in 2024 in 206 snaps, C
TE – Stone Smartt – (19/45) offense grade in 2024 in 183 snaps, C+
TE – Hayden Hurst – (45/45) offense grade in 2024 in 174 snaps, C to C+
TE – Eric Tomlinson – (45/45) offense grade in 2024 in 134 snaps, C
The Chargers tight end unit this past season indeed struggled although Will Dissly is very capable to a certain extent. Dissly consistently grades as above average in terms of an offense grade among qualified tight ends but is known to be very efficient but not explosive. Dissly, despite consistently grading so high as a tight end has never accumulated 500 receiving yards in any season in the league. Dissly however had a career high in receiving yards this past season in his first season with the Chargers. Perhaps Dissly in his previous tenure with Seattle was never utilized to the needed degree and that continued in year 1 with the Chargers. Perhaps as he enters year 2 with the Chargers, he can see his role grow in an NFL offense, as in lesser roles he has been very effective. The Chargers remaining tight ends outside of Dissly were nothing to write home about this past season and the unit in general was one of the weak points of the team. Heading into next season the team will retain Dissly as the lead tight end but the unit in totality remains a concern. Dissly, although very productive in reduced time on the field has not yet proven to be a bona-fide #1 NFL tight end although I believe he is very capable of being that. Going into year 2 with the Chargers he will be on the clock to prove he can indeed be a high level starting tight end. The team this offseason has moved off Hayden Hurst and Stone Smartt at the tight end spot. They have since signed veteran Tyler Conklin and drafted rookie Oronde Gadsden in the 5th round this offseason. Conklin is a capable pro who is likely better suited as a #2 or #3 tight end which is the role he will be in for the Chargers. It remains to be seen how effective Gadsden will be as he was drafted that late perhaps for a reason. Tucker Fisk, who played a reduced role on the team last season, also remains at tight end and the team’s tight end unit heading into 2025 can be found below.
Projected 2025 Chargers Tight Ends
TE – Will Dissly – B to B+
TE – Tyler Conklin – C+
TE- Oronde Gadsden – 2025 5th rounder
TE – Tucker Fisk – (29/45) offense grade in 2024 in 206 snaps, C
The tight end unit for the Chargers is one of the weaker points of the team but still has a few solid capable and potentially above average NFL players in it.
Overall, with the Chargers on the offensive side of the ball they were closer to average last season despite the raw historic talent of Justin Herbert along with Jim Harbaugh being one of the brightest offensive minds in league history. This was due to Harbaugh/Herbert only being in year 1 together and Harbaugh not having coached in the NFL for a decade. In addition to that offensive coordinator Greg Roman was in his first season with the team. The lack of cohesion in terms of offensive schematics due to inexperience will certainly be alleviated to a large extent as Harbaugh/Herbert/Roman all go into year 2 together with Los Angeles. The Chargers also struggled with personnel in key spots and were too young in certain spots offensively as well. The offseason additions of Mekhi Becton, Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, Mike Williams, and Tre Harris will go a long way towards the Chargers fielding better offensive personnel next season. Youth also haunted the team last season on the offensive side of the ball as the team had multiple key players yet to enter their primes. As Ladd McConkey, Joe Alt, and Quentin Johnston who were all 1st or 2nd round picks in either the 2024 or 2023 NFL Drafts, have all shown potential but have yet to truly enter their primes. All three of those players can all take a big step forward for the team next season as they gain more experience in the league. Justin Herbert is one of the most talented QBs I have ever seen and Jim Harbaugh, with an offensive background, is maybe the best overall football coach I have ever seen. There is no reason that with those two leading the way that your offense cannot be explosive and elite. With those two heading into their second season together with the Chargers potentially greatly improving from an offensive personnel perspective as well, the Chargers can certainly be elite offensively next season.
