The Los Angeles Chargers have been busy this offseason. The Chargers have made plenty of moves to improve the team, especially on the offensive line to protect stud quarterback Justin Herbert. With a plethora of weapons, better pass protection, and a big-armed quarterback, L.A.'s offense could be in line for a huge year.
The defense is the weakest link on this team, but it's not like they're the worst group in the league. The Chargers should be competitive throughout the 2021 season and could be a surprise playoff contender this year. We'll see how they do as they play in a tough AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chargers will need the best roster possible if they hope to make a run at the postseason this year. Before we can get to that point, the coaching staff will cut the roster down to 53 players before the start of the season. A handful of players stand out as obvious decisions, but there will be fierce competition for backup roles. With that said, here are three cut candidates on the Chargers' roster bubble entering training camp.
1. Easton Stick
The Chargers have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert already, which bodes well for their future success. That makes the backup quarterback role less important for the Chargers, so they're likely to keep just two quarterbacks on the roster. Chase Daniel is the favorite to win the backup job, leaving Easton Stick as the odd man out.
This shouldn't be a surprise cut by any means, as this is likely the easiest decision the coaching staff has to make during training camp. The Chargers will be able to use this roster spot for a different position that is much more needed for this team to succeed.
2. Michael Badgley
The Chargers have a serious position battle for the starting kicker role this year. They currently have four kickers on the roster. Michael Badgley has been the team's kicker since 2018, but it seems the coaching staff is looking to move on. He has been efficient with his extra-point attempts, but it's the field goals where he fell short. Badgley kicked just 72.7% last year and struggled from 50-plus yards out.
Los Angeles lost a lot of one-possession games last year as part of a 7-9 season, so more efficient field goal kicking could help improve the team's chances. The other three kickers competing are Ty Long, Tristan Vizcaino, and rookie Alex Kessman. We'll see how the position battle goes, as one of these three are more likely to win the job than Badgley.
3. Stephen Anderson
After electing to not re-sign Hunter Henry, the Chargers' front office signed Jared Cook to become their new starting tight end. He should be a great one-year rental who helps coach up the young tight ends on the roster as well. The Chargers seem to like Donald Parham, as he still has the potential to become a viable pass option in the league. Additionally, the Chargers selected Tre' McKitty in the 2021 NFL Draft, giving L.A. a rookie it can groom for the future.
Between Cook, Parham, and McKitty, the Chargers' tight end group is essentially a lock. They might keep a fourth tight end on the roster, but even then, the odds are stacked against Stephen Anderson. He'll have to show major improvements in training camp and ball out in the preseason if he hopes to remain on the final roster this year.
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