Los Angeles Chargers: Early roster predictions for the 2020 season

Linebackers (8): Emeke Egbule, Malik Jefferson, Kenneth Murray, Uchenna Nwosu, Denzel Perryman, Drue Tranquill, Nick Vigil, Kyzir White

The Chargers traded up to 23rd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft so they could select Kenneth Murray.  The Oklahoma product is widely regarded as the best linebacker in the draft outside of Isaiah Simmons. Murray provides Los Angeles with some much needed defensive stability.

The Chargers tried to fix their linebacking corps last year by signing Thomas Davis, but the addition didn’t make a significant difference. Now, the Chargers have a middle linebacker who can hopefully captain their defense for the next decade.

Los Angeles also signed Nick Vigil in free agency. Vigil spent the first four seasons of his career in Cincinnati, where he served as a full-time starter for three years. However, Vigil could start 2020 working as a rotational player. He’s not a guaranteed starter and experienced more than his fair share of troubles with the Bengals.

Denzel Perryman, Drue Tranquill, and Kyzir White all earned starting snaps last season. Perryman could lose his starting job to Murray this year, but Tranquill and White should expand their roles. Emeke Egbule and Malik Jefferson, draft picks from the previous two years, will sneak onto the roster as depth players.

Uchenna Nwosu can technically classify as a defensive end in Los Angeles’ scheme, but the team could list him as an outside linebacker as well. The former second-round pick played 37% of the team’s defensive snaps last season, and he should see even more opportunities in 2020.