Three Chargers make Pro Football Focus' Top 101 list

Pro Football Focus put out its top 101 players from the 2016 season. Three Chargers were included.

The 2016 Chargers season wasn’t a good one, but at least several players thrived. After cornerback Jason Verrett (No. 49) was the only Charger to make the list in 2015, a trio of players made PFF’s 2016 list. Let’s see who made the cut.

Oct 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (99) sacks Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

No. 32: DE Joey Bosa

Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, was the first Charger to be selected. Here’s what Sam Monson had to say:

It was the first time in over a decade that the Chargers had a top-10 pick–and they nailed it. Bosa led the team in sacks (10.5), which was second all-time among Chargers rookies. According to PFF, Bosa notched more pressures through his first 12 games than any player in the last 11 years and ended up grading out as the fifth-best edge defender.

Not only that, but Bosa won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. What more can you ask for?!

No. 39: CB Casey Hayward

Casey Hayward, a 2016 free-agent acquisition, was the second Charger on Monson’s list. Here’s what he had to say about Hayward:

Hayward, who was PFF’s No. 7 overall corner, had a breakout year, finishing the season with a league-high seven interceptions, 20 pass deflections and 58 total tackles. The 27-year-old also made his first Pro Bowl and was named a second-team All-Pro.

According to NFL.com’s Matt Harmon, Hayward allowed just 51 percent of passes against him to be completed (it’s an even more impressive stat considering Hayward went against the likes of Julio Jones, Mike Evans, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins). General manager Tom Telesco swung and missed on his first free-agent corner (Derek Cox), but he made up for it with the signing of Hayward.

No. 47: OLB Melvin Ingram

Melvin Ingram, an unrestricted free agent, had solid back-to-back seasons. He is the third and final Charger in the top 101. Here’s what Monson had to say:

Ingram has 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including eight this year. According to PFF, he had multiple pressures in every single game of the season. He may not compile all the sacks, but he gave the Chargers a solid pass-rush presence (finished with a pass-rush grade of +84.9, ninth-best among edge defenders, per PFF).

Nov 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is hit by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) on a play during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ingram is a player who can rush a passer, stop the run and, at times, cover. Many question whether or not the Chargers should re-sign Ingram partly because of new DC Gus Bradley’s 4-3 scheme.

ESPN’s Eric Williams projects that Ingram would fit well in the pass-rushing “Leo” role (defensive end) . He’s also versatile enough to move to linebacker in certain situations.

That said, the Chargers cannot afford to lose a pass-rusher like Ingram.