Looking back at the tale of the tape of last season, the Los Angeles Chargers desperately needed an upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. In specific, the secondary. Former All-Pro Derwin James had his worst season. #1 Cornerback Michael Davis was atrocious. Second-year slot cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor was not playing well. Lead play-caller Brandon Staley was responsible for the majority of these issues, but upgrades were very much needed as well. A brand-new Chargers rookie could very well be the upgrade that the Bolts have been looking for.
The Chargers decided to part ways with former Head Coach and “defensive guru” Brandon Staley. After the hiring of new head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz, it was apparent that this team would be handling things much differently. This started with smart, cheap, high-upside, free-agent pickups. This philosophy furthered itself in the 2024 NFL draft, where Hortiz ensured this team was building for success in the future. The most surprising and disliked pick of the Chargers 2024 class has actually been the most impressive, considering draft selection.
A Questionable Selection: Already Showing Answers
The 2024 Chargers rookie class was a very strong start for this brand-new regime. However, the most questioned selection was Maryland cornerback, Tarheeb Still. Selected at the very top of the fifth round, he was seen as a slight reach by the general media. However, during day three of the NFL draft, team evaluations and NFL draft analyst evaluations start to matter less. This is due to teams having more insider information than most analysts and trusting in their system to develop these players.
Still was not the biggest name in the draft process, so the confusion about why he was selected over guys like Cam Hart (which the Chargers ended up selecting a few selections after anyway), was apparent. The Maryland product was touted for his run-stopping ability, which the Chargers covet for a slot defender. He was also touted for his football IQ, leading him to play either outside or inside. However, his 7.50 RAS score was nothing to love, and combining this with his lack of size led to his selection in round five.
Tarheeb Still is a CB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 7.50 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 564 out of 2255 CB from 1987 to 2024.
Pro day pending.https://t.co/nNmeNURMRI pic.twitter.com/YxA2b804Aa
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 13, 2024
ESPN Names Tarheeb Still A Standout Surprise
In a recent ESPN article covering each team’s OTA standout surprises, the Los Angeles Chargers selection was Tarheeb Still. Chargers ESPN beat writer explains his selection of Still by saying, “Still snagged an interception and had multiple pass deflections throughout minicamp. Safety Derwin James Jr. pointed to Still as a player who impressed him and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said he appreciated how much Still has improved since the beginning of the offseason program.”
This selection has come as a surprise to many, as explained before Still was not expected to be a standout player from even his own draft class. However, his play during OTAs and minicamps speaks for itself, and he has shown major improvement thus far. The Chargers will be looking forward for the Chargers rookie selection to fight for a starting spot in 2024. The main competition for Still is current starting slot corner Ja’Sir Taylor. Taylor had a 56.2 overall PFF grade, and it was apparent on tape that the Chargers needed someone to push Taylor for the starting spot.
If Still’s rise continues, the Chargers very well could have landed them a very surprising steal in the fifth round. The play of the Chargers slot cornerbacks in 2024 will be crucial for this team’s success, and Still has given the Chargers every reason thus far to believe in his development.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
