1. Los Angeles Chargers
Talk about a tease? In 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers built off a very strong finish the previous season and finished 12-4. That record was tied with the AFC West champion Chiefs for the best in the conference. The club was relegated to wild card status and would win a playoff game at Baltimore before being humbled at Foxborough in the divisional round.
Since then, the Bolts are a combined 21-28 and have failed to get back to the postseason each of the last three years. In 2021, under first-time NFL head coach Brandon Staley, the team was perhaps too aggressive at times when it came to game-time decisions. The club finished 9-8 and was eliminated from playoff contention in overtime on the final regular-season game of the season.
In recent drafts, general manager Tom Telesco added the 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in end Joey Bosa. Four years later, quarterback Justin Herbert captured NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. And now has free agency approaches, only the Miami Dolphins have more potential cap room than this franchise.
So will Telesco get standout wide receiver Mike Williams signed to a new deal or give him the franchise tag? On defense, only two teams in the NFL allowed more rushing yards than the Bolts in 2021.