The Chargers’ defense carried this team at times throughout the 2024 season. The unit, led by Jesse Minter, shocked many people around the league en route to being the No. 1 scoring defense.
There will be a few changes to the lineup in 2025, as the defense lost most notably Joey Bosa and Poona Ford. Ahead of training camp, let’s project what the starting defense will look like this season.
DL: Da’Shawn Hand, Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia
This group will miss the likes of Ford, who was excellent in 2024. Someone from this unit will have to step up. Tart showed signs of promise last season but will have to prove it in a more extended role this year.
The same can be said for Ogbonnia, who started all 17 regular-season contests yet still played just 46% of the defensive snaps. Rookie Jamaree Caldwell will have an opportunity to see significant playing time right away if he can adjust to the next level quickly.
EDGE/LB: Tuli Tuipulotu, Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson, Khalil Mack
The only real position battle here is for the spot next to Henley. Veteran Denzel Perryman could occupy that spot, but he showed signs of slowing down last year. Colson didn’t play much as a rookie, but with a stellar training camp, the path is there for him to earn a starting gig.
Henley was phenomenal in 2024 and became a massive part of the defense’s success. Tuipulotu will be a full-time starter for the first time in his career as he takes over Bosa’s spot.
CB: Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still
This room looks a bit different than last year’s, as the team will rely heavily on Hart and Still to show signs of growth in their second seasons. Jackson has started 92 games in his seven-year NFL career, so he helps replace the experience lost from Kristian Fulton and Asante Samuel Jr. It’s hard to imagine any of these three guys losing a starting job before Week 1.
S: Derwin James, Alohi Gilman
Gilman has quietly become a mainstay in this defense, having amassed 25 starts and over 1,500 defensive snaps in the last two years. He complements James quite well, which forms a legitimate duo on the back end. James is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl selection and continues to be a top safety in the game.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Predicting the Chargers’ starting defense before training camp
Reporting by Spencer Schultz, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
