Chargers Training Camp: Justin Herbert and 3 main concerns

Concern No. 3: Chargers could miss out on UDFA gems

This is one of the most fun parts of the late summer to watch, and one of the most crucial reasons preseason games matter. The majority of football fans probably don’t watch the fourth and final preseason game all that closely, but this is the game which matters most to about 30-40 players each year.

Many of the players fighting for jobs in that final preseason games can be fit into one of three categories: Journeymen veterans, late-round picks and undrafted free agents. All of them are laying it on the line in order to earn a spot on an NFL roster. It’s a chance to earn a full-time job for at least one season.

The Chargers picked up quite a few undrafted free agents this year, including Notre Dame teammates Asmar Bilal and Donte Vaughn.

Bilal, a linebacker for the Irish, enters the NFL after having a breakout season for Notre Dame last year. He finished with 79 tackles (48 solo) in 13 games, including 10.0 for a loss. He’s probably the one guy to get most excited about when it comes to Los Angeles’ undrafted guys.

But, with such a short offseason and limitations in training camp, Bilal is starting his pro journey behind the eight ball — as are the other 18 undrafted free agents the team signed. If there is zero preseason this year, the majority of these guys may not even get a fair shot, and that’s a shame. This will be a sad reality for many teams in 2020.