The Chargers addressed multiple positions this offseason, but safety remains a need. However, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley said that he is still bullish on the team’s depth in the positional room.
In comments made during a press conference at the Chargers’ rookie minicamp, Ansley made his confidence in the unit clear.
[We have] good competition. We have competition at every spot in the secondary, especially safety. You have Derwin James [Jr.], who can play multiple spots. You have Alohi [Gilman] that has played a lot of ball around here. You have JT [Woods], we have a lot of expectations for him this year. It’s going to be a really competitive group. Mark Webb [Jr.] is in that mix, Michael Jacquet, Raheem Layne. That group is very competitive. A lot of different skillsets in that group, which is what you need at safety.
2022 third-round pick JT Woods was taken with the idea of playing him as the deep safety to allow Derwin James to move all over the field. But that never came to fruition as Woods struggled as a tackler in his limited defensive snaps and was a non-factor defensively.
The Chargers are hopeful that Woods’ play will improve and that he can become the starter. But he will have to beat out Alohi Gilman, who played well in 2022. Additionally, they liked what Raheem Layne brought as a rookie last season so he could be in the mix.
Ansley’s faith in the talent currently available to him is a good sign that the team is in a good position moving forward.
