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Chargers News: Daiyan Henley Stuns Preseason with Highest Rookie LB Grade

Originally posted on Los Angeles Chargers on SI
By Ricardo Sandoval | Last updated 8/28/23

Your Los Angeles Chargers ended preseason on a high note, as they picked up their second win of three games against the San Francisco 49ers in the finale, 23-12.

By tomorrow, we'll know who will be on the final 53-man roster, and although many players won't make it, who doesn’t have to worry about their spot is their rookie linebacker, Daiyan Henley.

The Chargers took Henley with the 85th pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Washington State. He was named in First-team All-Pac-12 in his final collegiate career, and thus far, he's proving he's a force to be reckoned with.

Henley is making it an easy transition to the NFL, at least through the first week weeks of the preseason. The 23-year-old has been killing it all preseason long and capped it off in Week 3 against the 49ers as he had the highest rookie linebacker grade, according to PFF.

Highest graded rookie LBs from Preseason Week 3:

1️⃣ Daiyan Henley, LAC: 85.5
2️⃣ Trenton Simpson, BAL: 84.8
3️⃣ Ventrell Miller, JAX: 83.9 pic.twitter.com/JAtf3VsteE
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 28, 2023

Overall, Henley has recorded 11 solo tackles, one assist, and one interception. PFF graded Henley an overall grade of 81.9, with his coverage being the best at 90.2.

His run defense and pass rush defense weren't the best of grades, but nonetheless, he did his thing and made his case to be a consistent fixture in the lineup.

There is no question that the rookie linebacker will make the team, and we'll see how his role progresses throughout the year or if he gets a ton of play time from the jump.

We cannot wait to see how Daiyan and the rest of the rookies perform against the best of the best in the regular season.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Chargers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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