The Los Angeles Chargers hoped for a better ending in 2024, but a 20-point loss to the Houston Texans let them know there is still plenty of work to be done for the team to get to where it ultimately wants to go.
The Chargers have over 20 players set to hit free agency this offseason and though Jim Harbaugh has stated that he wants to bring as many of them back next year as possible, that won't be easy... or likely. Instead, the team will have to turn to several different players next season to continue what it started this season.
These four players could help lead the Chargers from a fringe Wild Card team into the upper echelon of the AFC.
Los Angeles Chargers 2025 breakout candidates
Brenden Rice, WR
This is mostly due to opportunity, more than what we have seen on the field, which has been nothing.
The Chargers will have Joshua Palmer, D.J. Chark, Simi Fehoko and Jalen Reagor all hitting the market as unrestricted free agents this offseason, leaving Ladd McConkey, Derius Davis and Quentin Johnston as the only guys on the roster.
The Chargers will certainly look to free agency and the draft to address the wide receiver position, but Brenden Rice should get a chance to have more of an opportunity in 2025.
Junior Colson, LB
Injuries slowed down Junior Colson's rookie season but the Chargers were able to get strong contributions from Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye at the inside linebacker position. Perryman and Dye will be unrestricted free agents.
The Chargers used their third-round pick on Colson because of what Harbaugh saw him do in college at Michigan when he was his head coach there. There was a strong belief that he would acclimate to the NFL quite well and be a starter as a rookie.
He didn'[t get to exhibit much of that as a rookie but he should have a great chance to have a big bounce-back season in 2025.
Troy Dye, LB
The Chargers should bring back Dye in favor of Perryman (if they only re-sign one of them) and let him continue in his role as a reserve linebacker for the team. He filled in quite nicely this season.
Dye had 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season while playing on just 29 percent of the team's defensive snaps. The Chargers should have a solid backup option in place in the case that Colson has health issues or still isn't ready to assume the starting role.
Tuli Tuipolotu, OLB
Tuli Tuipolotu has already gotten off to a great start with the Chargers as he has 13.5 sacks in his first two seasons. But if the Chargers don't bring back Joey Bosa and/or Khalil Mack next season, Tuipolotu would stand to benefit.
Mack is a frree agent and Bosa could be cut at some point this offseason as doing so would create about $25 million in cap space.
Tuipolotu could go from a great rotational edge rusher to a top-flight sack artist in 2025.
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