Chargers Have an Underrated Star in One of the Most Important Positions

Jim Harbaugh has already improved the Los Angeles Chargers in just one year, and they’ll be a fun franchise to watch during the upcoming season. But, it’s not just the rookies who are getting looks. This team has some guys who have been on the squad for a while and are just now starting to bloom, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports is highlighting his absolute favorite under-the-radar breakout stars for 2026. “The offseason and preseason do provide plenty of opportunities for individuals to make their jumps from relative unknowns — at least to casual fans — to standouts,” he says.

For the Chargers, he likes edge Byron Young.

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“It can be difficult to find an under-the-radar star on a team with so many very much on-the-radar stars, but Byron Young fits the bill here,” he says in the piece. “He has already played very well — PFF had him as the No. 10 EDGE in the NFL last year — and now he’ll get a ton of one-on-one opportunities with Myles Garrett on the opposite side.”

Young had an impressive 12 sacks last year and even got into the Pro Bowl, but he’s not a household name. Yet. That could definitely change.

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Pereles also makes a good point that the offseason and preseason offer “plenty of opportunities for individuals to make their jumps from relative unknowns — at least to casual fans — to standouts.” Young could certainly be one of those players, and it’ll be exciting to see how he performs.

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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM.