20 Most Important Chargers of 2025: No. 14 DL Teair Tart
Every day from now until the start of training camp, we're counting down our 20 Most Important Chargers for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead, and hit on the biggest question facing them this year.
Next up at No. 14 is defensive lineman Teair Tart.
Background
Age: 28
Position: Defensive tackle
Experience: Sixth season
2025 cap hit: $4.5 million
2024 recap
After playing with the Titans for the first four seasons of his pro career, Tart was signed right before the 2024 regular season. Appearing in all 17 games, Tart was a key cog up front as an interior pass rusher and against the run. He notched 29 tackles, a sack, five tackles for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble. Tart set career highs in Pro Football Focus overall (76.9) and run defense (70.9) grades. His PFF grade of 78.1 ranked 12th among defensive tackles who played at least 300 snaps.
2025 outlook
Tart was rewarded for his hard work with a one-year contract extension. Getting him back was important after the loss of their best interior defender from a season ago, Poona Ford. The Chargers also lost Morgan Fox, who provided an interior pass-rush presence. Los Angeles added some pieces in free agency with veterans Naquan Jones and DaShawn Hand, and in the draft with third-round pick Jamaree Caldwell. They're also hoping to get more out of Justin Eboigbe, last year's fourth-round pick. But despite the additions, the team is banking on getting the most production from Tart, who was a force last season in a rotational role.
Big question: Can Tart produce with extended snaps, and will he fill the void as an interior pass rusher?
We're counting down our 30 Most Important Chargers of 2025. Check back every day leading up to the start of training camp.
20. OL Bradley Bozeman
19. LB Junior Colson
18. TE Oronde Gadsden II
17. S Elijah Molden
16. RB Najee Harris
15. CB Cam Hart
14. DL Teair Tart
13. TBA
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