LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

For once, you’ve got to hand it to Los Angeles Chargers co-owner and chairman Dean Spanos. For the first time in more than half a decade, you could argue that he actually acted like he cares about his team. Of course, how much that had to do with his sudden pitched battle with his sister Dea for control of the franchise’s future might have had a little bit to do with that.

After all, Dea alleges that the team’s trust is in serious debt and she wants Dean, along with siblings Michael and Alexis to sell the team. So it’s probably as good a time to field a winner and move some tickets as any.

But, hey, for whatever reason Dean Spanos actually hired a real head coach, Brandon Staley, and did not sit on his hands after another mediocre season from former head coach Anthony Lynn. They have one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert and, on the other side of the ball, one of its best young pass rushers in Joey Bosa. This is a team primed to make a jump.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Last season: 7-9, 3^rd place AFC West

2021 odds: over 9 wins -145, under 9 wins +110

2021 NFL Draft: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern – Round 1, Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State – Round 2, Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee – Round 3, Tre’ McKitty, TE, Georgia – Round 3, Chris Rumph II, LB, Duke – Round 4, Brendan James, OT, Nebraska – Round 5, Nick Niemann, LB, Iowa – Round 6, Larry Rountree III, RB, Missouri – Round 6, Mark Webb, Safety, Georgia – Round 7

UDFAs: Ben DeLuca, DB – Charlotte, Jared Goldwire, DL – Louisville, Darius Harper, OT – Cincinnati, Hunter Kampmoyer, TE – Oregon, Alex Kessman, K – Pittsburgh, Ryan Langan, LS – Georgia Southern, Forrest Merrill, DL – Arkansas State, Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB – Oklahoma State, Kyle Spalding, OT – San Diego State, Elijah Stove, WR – Auburn

Acquisitions: Corey Linsley, C – Free Agent, Jared Cook, TE – Free Agent, Kyler Fackrell, Edge – Free Agent, Chase Daniel, QB – Free Agent, Matt Fieler, RT – Free Agent, Ryan Smith, CB – Free Agent, Christian Covington, DL – Free Agent, Oday Aboushi, LG – Free Agent

Key Losses: Melvin Ingram – Edge, Casey Hayward – CB, Trai Turner – RG, Hunter Henry – TE, Mike Pouncey – C, Dencel Perryman – LB, Tyrod Taylor – QB, Virgil Green – TE, Nick Vigil – LB, Forrest Lamp – LG, Dan Feeney – LG, Jahleel Addae – Safety, Jaylen Watkins – Safety, Rayshawn Jenkins – Safety, Malik Jefferson – LB, Cole Toner – RG, Sam Tevi – LT

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Justin Herbert

RB: Austin Ekeler

WR: Keenan Allen

WR: Mike Williams

WR: Jaylen Guyton

TE: Jared Cook

FB: Gabe Nabers

LT: Rashawn Slater

LG: Matt Fieler

C: Corey Linsley

RG: Oday Aboushi

RT: Bryan Bulaga

LDE: Jerry Tillery

NT: Linval Joseph

RDE: Justin Jones

OLB: Joey Bosa

LILB: Kenneth Murray Jr.

RILB: Kyzir White

OLB: Uchenna Nwosu

CB: Chris Harris Jr.

CB: Michael Davis

SS: Derwin James Jr.

FS: Nasir Adderley

K: Michael Badgley

P: Ty Long

FORECAST

The Chargers have the same brutal schedule as the rest of the AFC West, but it’s stacked up in such a way as to allow them to come off the blocks strong. They open at the Washington Football team, then host the Dallas Cowboys. An away game at Kansas City will be trouble, but then they have two straight home contests against the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders. They could easily be 4-1 when they travel to Baltimore, a team they dominated in the playoffs just a few years ago.

As it is with all the AFC West teams, Aaron Rodgers’ possible addition to the Denver Broncos could throw a wrench into Los Angeles’ fortunes. Both Denver games come in the second half of the season too, when Rodgers should be well acclimated to the playbook (if the trade happens). Still, this Chargers team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and finally has a coaching staff that can do something with it. They still won’t be the best team in LA, but they’ll probably be one of the six best teams in the league.

Final Record Prediction: 12-5

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