It remains to be seen just what kind of team the Chargers will be this season after undergoing so many changes, especially at the top. Regardless of their team’s win-loss record, there are a number of Chargers players who could further solidify their time with the franchise by rising even higher in the team’s record books.
Here are those players along with the numbers they must hit in 2024 to further supplant themselves in team annals.
Justin Herbert
Herbert enters the 2024 season fourth in passing yards (17,223), touchdowns (114), and completions (1,613) in Chargers franchise history. He’s right on the heels of former quarterback John Hadl in the completions column as the latter ended his Bolts tenure with 1,824. That means Herbert only needs 212 completions this upcoming season to move up into the top three, which should be easy work as Herbert had never completed less than 396 passes in a season before his injury-shortened 2023 campaign.
Josh Palmer
Palmer has the chance to move up quite a bit with just a “solid” receiving stat line in 2024. He’s currently 35th in receptions (143), 37th in receiving yards (1,703), and 41st in touchdowns (nine) entering his first season as the Chargers’ WR1. For simplicity’s sake, here’s all the numbers Palmer needs to hit to break into the top 25 in franchise history in all three categories:
- 45 receptions
- 576 receiving yards
- Seven receiving touchdowns
The only one of those that may not happen is the receiving touchdowns but otherwise barring a major injury, I don’t see how Palmer doesn’t hit both the receptions and receiving yards mark.
Joey Bosa
Bosa can finally obtain sole possession of second place in franchise history in the sack category with only three quarterback takedowns to surpass Shaun Phillips who ended his Chargers tenure with 69.5. Bosa has obviously struggled with injuries over the past few seasons but he’d have to miss essentially the entire season for him not to at least notch three more sacks. Should Bosa get there, he’d behind only Leslie O’Neal for the Chargers sack record.
Khalil Mack
Mack has only been with the Chargers for two seasons but his 25 total sacks are currently 19th in team annals. If Mack can hit the double-digit sack mark for the second year in a row, he’d be able to break into the top 15 by passing Steve DeLong who ended his Bolts career with 34.5 sacks. Depending on if Mack stays with the Chargers past the 2024 season, he’d also have a chance to push into the top 10 as he needs just 21 to make it.
Asante Samuel Jr
Samuel has had a strong start to his career in the pass breakup column. He’s only played three professional seasons but already has 35 passes defended, good for 11th in team annals. He’s never recorded less than 11 pass breakup in each of his three seasons and another 11 would have him tied in 8th with former safety Rodney Harrison. Notching another 13 (his career high set in 2023) would give him sole possession of seventh just behind linebacker Donnie Edwards (53).
