Why the Chargers selected CB Tarheeb Still

The Chargers finally got a cornerback they desperately needed with Maryland Tarheeb Still in the fifth round.

With the 137th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected Maryland cornerback Tarheeb Still. After waiting until day three to add a much-needed body to their cornerback room, the Bolts get a guy who projects heavily in the slot with the first of their two fifth-round picks.

According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Hill split roughly half his snaps between playing outside corner and in the slot. He recorded 28 pass breakups over his four seasons with the Terps while picking off five interceptions. He also blocked a kick as a sophomore which tells us part of his value to the Chargers could be as a special teams contributor as he battles for defensive snaps against incumbents Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard.

At 6’0 and 189 pounds, Still ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash with a notable 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot broad jump. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls him a scheme-independent cornerback that possesses the “processing for zone and the foot quickness to play press and off-man.” However, I don’t expect him to be asked to press all that often as he lacks the recovery speed to catch back up if he misses with his initial punches. In the end, Zierlein believes Still has the makeup to come in and compete for a role immediately but will likely take a backup role as a rookie.

As a tackler, Still needs to become a more willing participant. He’s actually pretty adept at maintaining proper leverage to keep runs inside but he’ll have to become a more willing participant to find his way into real snaps on defense.