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2 months ago
PFF names Chargers' breakout candidate for 2026
Summary
Every season, some players emerge whose presences may not have been felt the previous season, whether they had limited snaps or dealt with an injury.
Pro Football Focus went through all 32 teams and named an early breakout candidate for each. For the Chargers, they pegged second-year safety R.J. Mickens as theirs.
The sixth-round pick made 11 appearances, including six starts, and earned a 70.8 PFF overall grade in the process. His fundamentally sound play style fit in perfectly with the Chargers’ secondary, and he reeled in two interceptions to boot. Veteran Tony Jefferson will be a free agent, so Mickens could assume an expanded role in 2026.
Mickens, the sixth-round pick out of Clemson, stepped into a larger role after a mid-season trade of Alohi Gilman and injuries to other safeties, proving to be a key contributor in Jesse Minter's defense.
Per PFF, on nine of his targets (219 coverage snaps), Mickens amassed two interceptions. That resulted in a 12.5 passer rating allowed in coverage, which was the top mark among 107 qualifying safeties during the regular season.
Heading into Year 2, Mickens should have more of a sizable role, especially with Tony Jefferson set to hit the free agency market and durability concerns lingering with Elijah Molden.
Aaron Rodgers is picked off by Chargers rookie RJ MickensPITvsLAC on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/L4cUa44MZc
— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2025
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: PFF names Chargers' breakout candidate for 2026
Pro Football Focus went through all 32 teams and named an early breakout candidate for each. For the Chargers, they pegged second-year safety R.J. Mickens as theirs.
The sixth-round pick made 11 appearances, including six starts, and earned a 70.8 PFF overall grade in the process. His fundamentally sound play style fit in perfectly with the Chargers’ secondary, and he reeled in two interceptions to boot. Veteran Tony Jefferson will be a free agent, so Mickens could assume an expanded role in 2026.
Mickens, the sixth-round pick out of Clemson, stepped into a larger role after a mid-season trade of Alohi Gilman and injuries to other safeties, proving to be a key contributor in Jesse Minter's defense.
Per PFF, on nine of his targets (219 coverage snaps), Mickens amassed two interceptions. That resulted in a 12.5 passer rating allowed in coverage, which was the top mark among 107 qualifying safeties during the regular season.
Heading into Year 2, Mickens should have more of a sizable role, especially with Tony Jefferson set to hit the free agency market and durability concerns lingering with Elijah Molden.
Aaron Rodgers is picked off by Chargers rookie RJ MickensPITvsLAC on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/L4cUa44MZc
— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2025
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: PFF names Chargers' breakout candidate for 2026
AI Description
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has identified a promising young player from the Chargers as a breakout candidate for the 2026 season. The focus is on second-year safety R.J. Mickens, who has shown potential in his limited appearances.