4 most important non-QB players for Los Angeles Chargers ahead of 2024 season

Travis Wakeman

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4 most important non-QB players for Los Angeles Chargers ahead of 2024 season image

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a new approach in 2024 and that is due to the vision of new head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

While the team still boasts one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert, don't expect him to sling the ball around as much as he has to this point in his career. This team will feature a well-balanced attack and a hungry defense. 

With that in mind, which players not named Justin Herbert will be the most important to this team's success in 2024?

4 most important Chargers players that don't play quarterback

Joey Bosa, Defensive End

Joey Bosa has dealt with injuries in recent years and has fallen out of the minds of many fans when they think of the game's elite pass-rushers. In fact, some would list Khalil Mack here for that reason. 

But Bosa is still the guy who needs to pace this pass rush and get after the quarterback. He is still on the right side of 30 years old and can still make a major impact. 

Ladd McConkey, Wide Receiver

It's hard to put a rookie in this slot, but with the way this Chargers team is being built going into this season, it makes sense. The team will feature a committee at the running back position and though no wide receiver clearly sticks out in this offense, it's Ladd McConkey who should see the lion's share of targets in the passing game. 

Derwin James, Safety

Pound for pound, Derwin James might still be the best overall player on this defense. The Chargers have several questions in the secondary and many see it as the team's weakness. James needs to do his part to make sure the unit holds up.

Rashawn Slater, Tackle

Harbaugh is all about using his offensive line as his biggest strength. That is why Joe Alt was the team's first-round pick in the draft. 

 

But Slater needs to pace this unit and show that he is one of the best offensive linemen in all of football. It's reasonable to believe that the Chargers might have the league's best offensive line. That starts with Slater. 

Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.