Los Angeles Chargers training camp kicks off with all of the attention on head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, Harbaugh and the Chargers coaching staff will have their eyes locked on several position battles taking place during camp.
There are a few spots up for grabs on the Chargers depth chart. Los Angeles will have Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer battle for the starting spot at right guard while Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey, DJ Chark Jr, and Quentin Johnston battle for targets at wide receiver.
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Defensively, there’s more certainty about starting spots. One of the few spots up for grabs on that side of the ball this summer will be in the slot, with Ja’Sir Taylor and Tarheeb Still in a battle for the position.
In previewing Chargers training cam, Daniel Popper of The Athletic shed light on who holds the early edge to become the team’s starting nickel corner this season.
“In the spring, Ja’Sir Taylor got the vast majority of the first-team res at slot corner with the nickel package, and I think it’s his job to lose as the Chargers open training camp.”
Daniel Popper on who will be the Los Angeles Chargers slot cornerback this season.
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Taylor, age 25, entered the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He didn’t see the field much as a rookie, playing just 15 percent of the team’s defensive snaps with a majority of his reps (58 percent) coming on special teams. Last season, he took on a much larger role defensively.
Ja’Sir Taylor stats (2023)
| Games | PFF grade | INTs | Solo Tackles | Completion Rate Allowed | QB Rating Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 56.2 | 1 | 25 | 63.3% | 80.4 |
Drafted out of Wake Forest, the 5-foot-10 corner has shown he can make year-to-year improvements in the NFL. There’s also confidence that the new Chargers coaching staff can help him take another step forward, becoming a quality nickel for Los Angeles.
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However, the position battle is far from over. Popper notes that rookie Tarheeb Still really started showing improvements late in the spring. While he struggled early, the fifth-round pick “started to see the game well” at the end of spring ball, which is a trait the Chargers coaching staff is emphasizing.
“Still was making clean, decisive breaks on routes during minicamp. His instincts and ball skills were starting to shine. Still has the potential to push Taylor in the slot. He has to keep making plays in training camp.”
Daniel Popper on Los Angeles Chargers rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still
Experience and familiarity with the NFL and the speeds of the game should give Taylor a significant edge at the start of the Chargers training camp. If Still keeps improving, though, he could easily take over in the slot by the end of the summer or during the regular season. One thing that’s clear, Los Angeles likes its depth at the position more than it did a year ago.
