No. 14 DL Teair Tart

The Chargers are gearing up for the new season, which features a mix of new and returning faces within the organization. Several players are crucial to the team’s success this season.

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.