When evaluating the previous season as a whole, it’s easy to make quick judgments on the rookie class. Yet, we forget about the group brought in the year prior.
With that, let’s take a look at whether the second-year players shined or slumped.
QB Justin Herbert
Many thought that Herbert could be in for a slump, given that teams finally had NFL tape on him, and he was playing for yet another offensive play-caller. However, there was nothing that slowed him down in Year 2. Instead, he turned it up just a notch from his outstanding rookie season. Herbert shined with his arm talent and athleticism and showed continuous growth weekly with reading complex coverages, all while dealing with a leaky right side of the offensive line. He finished with a 65.9 completion percentage, 5,014 passing yards, 38 touchdown passes to 15 interceptions, 302 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns en route to writing his name in the history books every week.
Grade: A
LB Kenneth Murray
Expected to make a leap in Brandon Staley’s defense, Murray’s play did not reflect that early on before being sent to the injured reserve. Instead, his woes consisted of missing tackles, over-pursuing ball carriers, and struggling to shed blocks and work off contact. Soon after, Murray transitioned to an edge defender, hoping to elevate his game upon returning to the field. Still, that did not benefit him. It was a combination of limitations in his counters and strength, lacking a plan of attack when rushing and running too wide of the arc. Whether it was being held by an ankle injury and COVID-19 or the complexity of the system, Murray did not play like a first-rounder.
Grade: F
RB Joshua Kelley
One of the biggest questions heading into the season was who would establish themselves as the clear-cut backup behind Austin Ekeler. It took 14 weeks into the season for the Chargers to finally decipher that, and it was Justin Jackson who stepped up. Kelley didn’t have many opportunities early on, but when he did get more touches that came against the Giants, he turned ten carries into just 3.3 yards per carry. Kelley finished with 102 yards on 33 rushes (3.1 YPC). Given that Jackson is a free agent, it could lead to more snaps for Kelley. However, based on the lack of touches between him and Larry Rountree in 2021, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team instead went after a veteran in free agency to back up Ekeler in 2022.
Grade: C-
WR Joe Reed
Reed spent the 2021 season on the Chargers’ practice squad injured list with an ankle injury. However, he was recently signed to a Reserve/Future contract, indicating that he could be in to compete for the job as the starting returner.
Grade: N/A
S Alohi Gilman
Between a quad injury and COVID-19, Gilman’s season was cut to 11 games. It was a mixed bag of results when he was on the field. While he showed some flashes, like in Week 3 in the win over the Chiefs when he had the game-sealing interception, missed tackles in the open field were an issue late in the season. In coverage, Gilman allowed 10 receptions on 13 targets for 93 yards (9.3 yards per reception). Still, he showed enough to suggest that he will be a key rotational piece in the secondary next season.
Grade: B-
WR K.J. Hill
Hill survived cuts and was named to the 53-man roster over the likes of Tyron Johnson and Joe Reed. In the season opener, he caught three passes for 30 yards. Hill resumed his primary duties as the Chargers’ punt returner before being waived in favor of Andre Roberts. He amassed just 6.8 yards on six returns through the first six games. After clearing waivers, he was signed to the practice squad, where he remained the rest of the season. Hill was a surprise since he didn’t sign a Reserve/Future contract after the season, indicating that his time with the team is all but over.
Grade: C
