Ranking the 5 most important players on 2024 Los Angeles Chargers roster feat. Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey
The Los Angeles Chargers failed to meet their expectations last season by missing out on the NFL Playoffs, despite their loaded roster. This resulted in major changes during the offseason, including moving on from Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler. They also fired head coach Brandon Staley and made a bold move by replacing him with Jim Harbaugh.
Considering he just won a college football national championship with the Michigan Wolverines and previously made a Super Bowl appearance with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh will immediately be expected to win in his new head coaching position. If he is going to turn things around for the Chargers, here are the five most important players to his potential success.
5 most important Chargers players in 2024
#5 - JK Dobbins
Jim Harbaugh has used a run-heavy approach as the staple of his offensive philosophy during his coaching career. While the Chargers also have Gus Edwards on their roster, JK Dobbins offers significantly more upside. He was once one of the top running back prospects in the NFL before injuries derailed his past four seasons, so if he can bounce back, he could be a major weapon for them.
#4 - Joe Alt
To pull off a successful gameplan centered around the ground game, having a strong offensive line is extremely important. This is likely why the franchise selected Joe Alt in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, rather than addressing some of their other glaring needs. He will join another star tackle in Rashawn Slater, so if Alt lives up to his potential, they could form one of the best blocking combinations in the league.
#3 - Ladd McConkey
With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams no longer with the team, the Chargers will rely on other wide receivers to step up. Josh Palmer has been a solid veteran, but probably has limited upside, while Quentin Johnston was disappointing during his rookie season last year. They drafted Ladd McConkey this year, so he will be under some pressure to make an immediate impact.
#2 - Derwin James
One of the biggest issues for the Chargers last season was their passing defense. They allowed the third-most passing yards per game, so they will need to improve in this area. Derwin James is one of the most dynamic defenders in the entire NFL, so they will be counting on him to step up. He struggled with just one interception and seven passes defended last year, so a bounce-back season could go a long way in solving their problem.
#1 - Justin Herbert
Quarterbacks are the most important players in the NFL, but Justin Herbert may be under a bit more pressure this season than he has been in the past. The Chargers moving on from his top three passing targets will force him to make adjustments. He is already an elite player and is among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, which may have contributed to their decision to expect him to perform with fewer weapons around him.