Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart were among the revelations on defense for the Chargers in 2024.
The duo both began the season as reserves but eventually ascended into key roles for Jesse Minter's group.
As the 2025 season approaches, it's not hard to imagine both players becoming even better in Year 2.
ESPN's Ben Solak identified the 20 most important rising sophomores on defense heading into the season, and included the pair of fifth-round Chargers cornerbacks on his list.
Still impressed the ESPN analyst with what he was able to do once he stepped on the field as he led the Bolts in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (10) last season.
And he showed much more than you would expect from a rookie.
Solak wrote:
By Week 6, the Chargers needed players at outside corner, so they threw Still into the fire.
He shredded. Still just gets it. A zone-cover corner through and through, Still is extremely comfortable playing with his eyes in the backfield and relating to routes as they develop around him -- very instinctive. When forced to get connected to receivers, he has the explosiveness to stay in phase, and he plays the ball wonderfully through the catch point. Plenty of his pass breakups last season came when he never found the ball, but he knew how to play the receiver's hands. When he did see the football, he reliably caught it, turning four PBUs into interceptions, tied for second most among all rookies.
The ESPN analyst is high on what Still can offer the Chargers defense and will have his eye on what kind of second act the young cornerback can produce in 2025.
Solak wrote:
Still seems like one of those smart defenders that coaches just can't wait to get on the field, and I'm curious to see how L.A. does it this season. My guess is he'll start on the outside when the team is in the nickel (the Chargers prefer to play three safeties in their nickel sets), and then move to the slot when they want to get a third corner on the field. Flip-flopping can be an enormous ask for veteran players, let alone a second-year fifth-round pick. If Still can keep up the ball production in the slot, where his quick reactions might be even more potent, he'll unlock a new level of versatility in the Chargers' already excellent pass defense.
Check out the best photos from the fifteenth day of Training Camp 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo!
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice at Training Camp on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
Hart, meanwhile, might not have had the splashy numbers in terms of interceptions, but Solak is just as high on him.
The Notre Dame product was tied for third on the team with seven passes defensed in 14 games, but where he saw his most value was as an outside, physical cornerback.
Solak wrote:
But look at the advanced stats or the film, and you'll see that Hart went pound for pound with Still. Hart gave up 5.4 yards per target to Still's 7.4, and that 5.4 yards per target was the seventh-best figure among corners last season. Hart and Still also had the same hawk rate, just on fewer snaps and targets. (Hawk rate is a Next Gen Stat that measures plays on the ball, including interceptions and pass breakups.)
To be clear, Still is awesome, but Hart really pops on film. A big and long body (6-foot-3, 33-inch arms), and comfortable at the line of scrimmage, Hart was especially used by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in matchups in which he wanted to get brackets, bumps and cloud coverage over star receivers. And when push came to shove and it was time to man up, Hart was the Chargers' best coverage corner.
With another year in the system and of experience under his belt, Solak likes the versatility Hart can provide.
Solak wrote:
The Chargers were one of the most zone-heavy teams in football last season, and Hart was perfectly fine on those reps. They'll remain one of the most zone-heavy teams this season, and Hart will do his job. But when the Chargers catch a quarterback who would shred their zones (like Burrow) or encounter a star receiver they need to hassle (like Chase), Hart will really stand out. He brings that secondary skill set the Chargers need so badly when forced to play out of their comfort zone.
