After being one of the NFL's most elite defensive units last season, the Los Angeles Chargers lost a few key contributors on that end of the field. Joey Bosa, Kristian Fulton, and Poona Ford left and signed elsewhere. While retaining a few important free agents like Khalil Mack, Elijah Molden, and Teair Tart, the Chargers also made significant additions.
Some of the most important transformations came on the secondary. Following Fulton's loss, the Bolts added Donte Jackson from the Steelers and Benjamin St. Juste from the Commanders. While Asante Samuel Jr is currently a free agent whose future with the team remains uncertain, there is another Chargers cornerback whose time in Los Angeles may be coming to an end after the slew of offseason moves.
Even though Ja'Sir Taylor is still under contract for next season, the 26-year-old may find it harder to see significant defensive snaps in 2025. The sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Taylor has been getting a ton of playing time as a nickelback over the last three seasons. He played over 350 defensive snaps last year while maintaining his special teams role.
In those snaps, however, Taylor left plenty to be desired. He received a 56.7 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus, allowing a 72.4% completion rate, five touchdowns, and a 146.8 passer rating when targeted.
Now, there is a lot more competition for the slot corner position. Tarheeb Still, the fifth-round pick from last year, has spent some time there and will increasingly continue to do so with the additions of Donte Jackson and St-Juste. Elijah Molden and Derwin James Jr. have also lined up at the slot over the last couple of years, making them alternative options when needed.
Taylor is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Chargers. With the added depth and talent to the defensive backfield, he may be seeing a decline in his role going forward.