A year ago, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart were fifth-round picks trying to earn reps on the Chargers’ defense. Now, heading into Year 2, both defensive backs look like major draft steals — and critical pieces of a secondary poised to become one of the NFL’s best.
It didn’t take long for Still to prove he belonged. Originally drafted to play nickel, Still was thrust into an outside role by Week 6 due to injuries — and he flourished. As ESPN’s Ben Solak put it, “Still just gets it.” A natural zone corner, Still has elite instincts, excellent ball skills, and the versatility to play inside or outside. His rookie stat line — four interceptions and a host of pass breakups — underscored just how quickly he adapted to the league.
“He shredded,” Solak wrote. “Still seems like one of those smart defenders that coaches just can’t wait to get on the field.”
Chargers Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart Among Top 20 Sophomores
Chargers defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale agrees. But what’s elevated Still beyond talent alone is his willingness to learn from greatness. This offseason, the 22-year-old began joining nine-time Pro Bowler Khalil Mack on Fridays for strength work and mentorship.
“No wonder why Still seems like he’s a different person,” Clinkscale said. “He’s really grown up and matured.”
Still had already been grinding with quarterback Justin Herbert Monday through Thursday. But after Mack called him out for trying to take a Friday off — asking, “Why aren’t you coming in tomorrow?” — the rookie made the veteran’s workweek part of his own routine.
“Khalil is just showing me how to be intentional,” Still said. “Taking advantage of small incremental gains every day to get to where I want to be.”
That level of commitment could help Still become one of the league’s premier defensive backs in 2025. The Chargers are deep in the secondary, but with departures like Kristian Fulton (Chiefs) and Asante Samuel Jr. still a free agent, the door is wide open for Still to take on an even larger role.
And he’s not alone.
Cam Hart, Still’s fellow fifth-round classmate, may not have the interceptions to show for it, but his tape speaks volumes. Despite an injury-riddled rookie season — one that included two concussions, a torn labrum, and an ankle injury — Hart was among the most efficient corners in the NFL.
Solak noted that Hart allowed just 5.4 yards per target, one of the best figures in the league, and matched Still in ball-hawking rate. “When push came to shove and it was time to man up,” Solak wrote, “Hart was the Chargers’ best coverage corner.”
A healthy Hart projects to be a major asset, especially in games where the Chargers need to mix in man coverage against top-flight receivers. His physicality and length (6’3″ with 33-inch arms) give him a unique matchup profile in a zone-heavy scheme — the kind of corner who can bump and bracket elite wideouts like Ja’Marr Chase and force quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.
Hart, who’s expected to return around minicamp following offseason shoulder surgery, isn’t lacking confidence either.
“I showed a small percentage of who Cam can be in the NFL last year,” Hart said. “With 17 healthy games, I think I got a lot more to show.”
Clinkscale is already penciling both players in as foundational. “Still and Hart,” he said, “are the cream of the crop.”
The Chargers added more veteran depth this offseason in Benjamin St-Juste and Donte Jackson, and rookies like Trikweze Bridges and Jaylen Jones are also flashing potential. But with Still and Hart leading the youth movement, Los Angeles may have found the type of late-round value that separates playoff teams from pretenders.
As Clinkscale put it: “Nobody has a spot. We want to see who’s going to earn it.”
Based on what we’ve already seen, Still and Hart have a head start on the rest.
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