Pro Football Focus’ Jonathon Macri named each NFL team’s most underrated player ahead of the 2025 season. For the Chargers, Macri listed linebacker Daiyan Henley under this category.

Here is what Macri had to say about Henley:

It wouldn’t have been a major surprise for the Chargers’ new coaching staff to lean on either veteran Denzel Perryman or third-round pick Junior Colson, considering his familiarity with Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter’s defense, as the team’s lead linebacker in 2024.

However, Henley seized that opportunity, despite playing just 54 defensive snaps as a rookie. He became a key player for the defense, even earning a 71.3 PFF coverage grade, which ranked 11th at the position last season.

Henley’s presence in the middle of the defense was crucial to the Chargers’ defensive success this past season. Arguably one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs, Henley had 147 tackles, the eighth most in the NFL.

Despite finishing as one of the best coverage linebackers in the league, Henley only recorded a single interception, which came in the final regular-season game against the Raiders. However, the former wide receiver and safety did finish with eight passes defended in 2024.

Heading into Year 3, Henley will look to further stamp himself as one of the top linebackers in the league. He will start alongside Junior Colston, who missed most of his rookie campaign with injuries. Like Henley, who went through a similar process in Year 1, Colson should be in a position to make a big jump.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Who is the Chargers’ most underrated player ahead of the 2025 season?