12 Chargers Who Won't Return Next Season

11. Scott Matlock

Continuing the cut candidate trend here, it is absolutely not too early to give up on Scott Matlock.

The 2023 sixth-round pick got a good chance to prove himself as a rookie, playing 266 defensive snaps with another 94 on special teams. That's the silver lining of having a defensive line that played so poorly — the Chargers got a nice long look at a bunch of different options.

And Matlock is clearly not a real option. He was one of the league's worst defenders, ranking 127th out of 130 interior defensive linemen in PFF grading. A late draft pick out of Boise State was always fighting an uphill battle to be a productive NFL player, and now he's even more of a longshot.

I won't say it's impossible that he turns things around, but it's certainly not likely enough to give him a roster spot.

And that's another silver lining here. Getting to see Matlock play, struggles and all, makes it a lot easier to make a roster decision.

He is likely to be released this offseason, and with the way he played last year it's likely not even worth the Chargers giving him a practice squad spot if (when) he clears waivers.