Chargers rank T-7th in AFC “best set for the future” rankings

29/06/2024

It’s not a rebuilding year for the Chargers. It’s a re-tool.

Jim Harbaugh would not have taken this job if he was going to have to build the team back up from nothing. He knew he would have his work cut out for him, but the idea that the Chargers wouldn’t be that competitive in 2024 likely didn’t cross his mind. He wouldn’t have accepted it.

Since taking over, new faces abound on the roster. The running back, receiver, and cornerback rooms are quite different. There will be two new starting inside linebackers. Luckily, the edge rusher, safety, and quarterback rooms are essentially the same.

So as it stands, the idea is that it is only up from here. Harbaugh, Joe Hortiz, and the rest of those in power will continute building this franchise in their image into a bigger and better winner. Or at least that’s what we all hope.

With that in mind, how do the Chargers actually look on paper when it comes to having an eye on the future? Will their rise up the NFL ranks be meteoric? Will it be a steady upward movement? Or will it be shakier than we’d all like?

Our very own Kenneth Arthur took to the task of ranking the AFC teams in order of how well they are currently built for the future. It takes into account a number of traits and variables, including the quality of the quarterback position, how the team recently finished the 2023 season, and their offensive/defensive pass success.

When Arthur was done adding up the numbers in his formula, the Chargers came out tied for seventh in the rankings alongside the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here’s what he had to say about their placement:

Overall ranking: T-13

Best ranking: QB (4)

Worst ranking: Recent (23), Def/Pass (23)

In his previous stint as an NFL head coach, Jim Harbaugh took over a 6-10 team from Mike Singletary and went 13-3 in his first season. These Chargers are more talented than those 49ers, but Harbaugh didn’t have to worry about Patrick Mahomes back then. Still, look at the talent around Justin Herbert after adding Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey, Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Will Dissly, D.J. Chark, and Hayden Hurst to an offense that wasn’t lacking in talent and you can see how L.A. might be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2025.

For added context, the six teams ahead of the Chargers in descending order were the Chiefs, Ravens, Bills, Texans, Bengals, and Browns.

In my opinion, I think this ranking is actually being pretty kind to the Chargers. All of the teams ahead of them had much better defenses a season ago and most also have an established/successful young quarterback. Just based on those two variables alone, I’m surprised the Chargers are this close to the top.

If I look outside the Chargers, I would actually not have the Bills so high. They lost Stefon Diggs — who now plays for the Texans — and Gabriel Davis who is now in Jacksonville. Josh Allen is a hell of a talent at the quarterback position, but those were his top two receivers the past few seasons. That alone should bump them down a peg in the hierarchy of the AFC.

Deshaun Watson has not been all that great for the Browns, but dang has that defense been phenomenal. It basically carried that team the entire year without Nick Chubb healthy for the offense.

So how do we all feel about Kenneth’s ranking of the Chargers? Do you believe they should be at all higher? What about lower? If so, how much lower do they deserve to drop? Let us know all of your thoughts below!

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