5 Chargers Whose Time in L.A. Will End After the Wild Card Round Loss
By Joe Summers
3. Eli Apple - CB
Eli Apple was impressive when he was actually on the field, ranking 14th out of 223 qualified cornerbacks at Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just four games, marking 2024 as the fourth season with which he's missed significant time.
He'll turn 30 years old in August and given his injury history, Apple isn't a good fit with what the Chargers are trying to build. There are a lot of aging players on the defense and the roster is long overdue for an injection of young defensive talent.
Apple surrendered only a 47.9 passer rating when targeted in coverage. If the front office feels comfortable with his medicals, perhaps Apple could return on another one-year deal. Odds of that seem low though, so that the coaching staff can develop more youthful replacements.
Eli Apple was elevated from the practice squad and had to fill in midgame due to CB injuries.
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) November 19, 2024
Giving you this 👇 off the bench in your three coverage reps is awesome pic.twitter.com/krM1ipnaSr
If the Chargers elect not to draft a cornerback, the chances of Apple returning increase. It's unclear what options will be available in free agency, though Los Angeles will be active.
Despite faltering a touch, the Chargers still ranked fourth in opponent yards per pass attempt (6.2). The foundation is laid for a strong secondary for years to come, but the team needs guys on the field to actually achieve its goals.
Should Apple get healthy over the summer, he could come back as the proven elder statesman with playoff experience. His sample size was small in 2024, yet the production was sound. Considering how much draft capital the Chargers have to work with though, Apple will likely be looking for another new team.