Welcome to Part 2 of my annual rankings of the 20 players most important to the Los Angeles Chargers’ success in 2026.If you missed Part 1, counting down players 20 to 11, you can check that out there. Below, we have our top 10.Some background before we dive: These are not necessarily the 20 best players on the Chargers roster. Instead, these are the 20 players who I think will have the biggest impact on how the Chargers perform in Year 3 under coach Jim Harbaugh. It is an exercise more geared toward finding the pressure points of the roster. Where do the Chargers need to see improvement? On whom are they relying? Where can they least afford injuries or performance regression?On to the rankings.All statistics courtesy of TruMedia unless otherwise noted.Chargers minicamp takeaways: Justin Herbert makes noticeable changeDaniel Popper10. DL Teair TartThe Chargers re-signed Tart on a three-year, $30 million extension this offseason. It’s been a remarkable journey for Tart, whom the Chargers initially signed off the street in August 2024. Tart has been a disruptive playmaker for the Chargers since that point, and he is now locked up long-term. The Chargers are relying on Tart to be that producer on the interior of the defensive line.General manager Joe Hortiz has built up some solid depth at this position. Jamaree Caldwell and Justin Eboigbe are ascending players. Fifth-round pick Nick Barrett has a chance to make an impact as a rookie. Dalvin Tomlinson brings size and veteran experience. Tart, however, is the top dog in this room, and he has to play like that after signing his contract. He is no longer just a success story about the Chargers’ player development. He is the leader of this position group.9. Edge Tuli TuipulotuTuipulotu is coming off a career-high 13 sacks in 2026. He went from solid young player to emerging star, and he’s now set up for a sizable payday. Tuipulotu and the Chargers are engaged in contract extension talks. We will see whether that deal gets done before the start of the season. Tuipulotu did not rule out a hold-in when he was asked about his contract negotiations during minicamp earlier this month. “Time will tell,” Tuipulotu said.The Chargers need Tuipulotu on the field and playing at a high level. Mack is now 35 years old. Their third edge rusher is rookie Akheem Mesidor. Can Tuipulotu build on his 2025 success and establish himself as a true No. 1 edge rusher in this defense? He has the opportunity to do so given the construction of the group. It would be smart for both sides to get this deal done before the start of the season.8. LB Daiyan HenleyHenley endured a great deal of hardship in 2025, from family tragedy to a mysterious and severe illness that landed him in the hospital. Henley still led the Chargers in defensive snaps. His commitment and strength were truly inspiring for his teammates.Henley had huge goals for 2025. Those did not all materialize. But he still showed development amid significant challenges on and off the field. Henley set a career high with two interceptions. He set a career high with 3.5 sacks. He finished more plays.Henley has all the tools to be one of the premier off-ball linebackers in the league. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Chris O’Leary will be relying on Henley as the signal caller in the middle of the defense. Henley will be paramount in the transition from Jesse Minter to O’Leary at defensive coordinator. If Henley can put it all together, the ceiling on this Chargers defense increases substantially.7. WR Ladd McConkeyMcConkey took a step back in his second season. His production decreased across the board statistically. After 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. There were a few reasons for this drop-off. First and foremost, the Chargers passing offense struggled overall because of the many injuries along the offensive line. Keenan Allen also took some opportunities away from McConkey in the middle of the field.McConkey is poised to return to his 2024 levels of production in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme. McConkey has the skills to operate in some of the same ways Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle did in Miami under McDaniel. The offensive scheme will get McConkey on the move with pre-snap motions and shifts. McConkey will be able to use his route running and speed to create after the catch. He is the No. 1 option in this passing offense. As such, he is extremely important to the Chargers’ success this season.6. RB Omarion HamptonHampton was on the verge of a breakout as a rookie in 2025 before a freak injury derailed his season. Against the New York Giants in Week 4, Hampton had 128 rushing yards on 12 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown. The next week, Hampton was kicked in the lower leg by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu. The result was an ankle fracture, and Hampton did not play again until Week 14. Down the stretch of the season, Hampton suffered another ankle injury. He did not play in Week 18. He had just one carry in a playoff loss to the New England Patriots.That Giants game showed Hampton’s potential. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be one of the best running backs in the league. That is not hyperbole. The Chargers are pairing those skills — strength, home run speed, physicality — with one of the most creative run game schemers in football in McDaniel. This partnership could lead to fireworks. If McDaniel can build a top-five offense, Hampton will be an essential part in that process.Khalil Mack continues to show no signs of slowing down as he enters his age-35 season. (Kevin Terrell / Getty Images)5. Edge Khalil MackWhen will Mack start to show his age? Maybe never. I won’t bet against him. Mack returned to the Chargers this offseason on another one-year deal. He missed some time with an elbow injury last season, which affected his box score production. But once Mack returned from that injury and got back into game shape, he was still an extremely impactful player as a run defender and pass rusher.When Mack was out from weeks 3 to 6, the Chargers ranked 17th in EPA per play on defense. After Mack returned in Week 7, the Chargers ranked sixth in EPA per play over the remainder of the season. Mack is one of those rare players whose impact is felt equally by his on-field performance and his leadership. He is one of the Chargers’ culture-setters. As long as he is still playing for the Chargers, Mack will be high on this list.4. LT Rashawn SlaterSlater’s 2025 season was the stuff of nightmares. He signed a $114 million contract in late July. Less than two weeks later, he tore his patellar tendon in practice, ending his season. Slater has worked his way back from that devastating injury, and he participated in spring practices. He is moving incredibly well. He is on track to participate in training camp and be ready for Week 1 as the Chargers’ starting left tackle, protecting Justin Herbert’s blindside.The Chargers lost Slater before the 2025 season started. They had right tackle Joe Alt for only six games. With the star tackles sidelined, the Chargers were an abject disaster in protection. Herbert was hit more than any quarterback in football. The Chargers need to change that in 2026. McDaniel’s scheme should help. So should getting two All-Pro tackles back.3. S Derwin James Jr.Earlier this offseason, the Chargers made James the highest-paid safety in the league for the second time in his career. They did that deal both because of his on-field production and his impact as a leader. James and Mack are 1A and 1B in terms of setting an example for the entire team. The Chargers are paying James through his age-33 season. It’s a risk they were eager to take given what James’ infectious personality brings to the locker room. And, oh yeah, in two seasons under Minter, James had 7.5 sacks, four interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.O’Leary was the Chargers’ safeties coach in 2024. He was instrumental in building the role for James that made him primarily a nickel player. When aligning James in this spot closer to the line of scrimmage, the Chargers can maximize his best traits. He can blitz. He can fit the run. He can match up with tight ends in man coverage. O’Leary will keep James in this role. And James will remain the heartbeat of this defense.2. RT Joe AltAfter Slater went down in training camp, Alt moved to left tackle. He started there for the first four games of the season before injuring his ankle in Week 4. Alt missed the next three games before returning in Week 8. In Week 9, Alt suffered another injury to the same ankle that ended his season.The Chargers might have been able to survive in protection last season if Alt had stayed healthy. Consider this: The Chargers were a top-five offense by EPA per play when Alt was on the field last season. When he was off the field, the Chargers were a bottom-six offense by EPA per play. Alt has battled injuries in each of his first two seasons. He must put together a healthy year. Alt can truly be one of the best tackles in the game if he can stay on the field.Justin Herbert-Mike McDaniel relationship blossoms at OTAsDaniel Popper1. QB Justin HerbertThis entire offseason has seemed geared toward one goal: How do the Chargers urge Herbert over the hump and get him his first playoff win? Herbert is 28 now. He is entering his seventh season. He has made the playoffs three times. He is 0-3. That includes back-to-back trips under Harbaugh.Herbert has played two of the worst games of his career in those two playoff losses, at the Houston Texans in 2024 and at the New England Patriots in 2025.The Chargers brought in McDaniel to help Herbert find that postseason success. The whole idea is to make life easier on Herbert. More layup throws. More explosive plays out of the quick game. A better run game as a complement. So when the Chargers do get to the postseason, they are not asking Herbert to be a superhero. He is capable of being that type of player. But the Chargers cannot be relying on it in these big moments. This is McDaniel’s primary task.In the end, this season will only be a success if Herbert gets his first playoff win.