The Chargers’ Receiver Room Needs a Veteran
Photo Credit: Andy Cross, MediaNews Group/Denver Post
After the 2024 NFL Draft in which the Los Angeles Chargers selected three wide receivers, highlighted by Ladd McConkey from Georgia, the receiver room has gotten stronger, but there is still one missing piece to elevate Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.
With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams no longer on the roster, the LA receiving core is full of youth. McConkey is accompanied by USC’s Brenden Rice and Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson as the Chargers’ draftees, all who have the tools to be successful NFL products. The rest of the room consists of Quentin Johnson, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko, Jaelen Gill, Jaylen Johnson, and Leon Johnson III. Currently, the oldest receiver in the room is Fehoko, who is 26, and has one reception for nine yards in his career.
Are there some talented players in this room? Absolutely. However, the fact that all the production in this room has come from a bunch of 22 and 24-year-olds shows the inexperience in this instance. With $30 million in cap space left, LA has the capability to add a receiver to this room to provide Herbert with a safety blanket. Who could be a viable option?
Tyler Lockett: Seattle Seahawks
Lockett is under contract for the next two seasons, averaging just under $15 million. Having his presence in this locker room would be valuable to the young guns who the Chargers hope will carry Herbert throughout his career. He has been an iron man for Seattle, playing in 14 or more games in six straight seasons. Even as he gets older, he has shown that he is still crafty, will be available, and can get open when his quarterback needs. Given what they received for Allen from Chicago, Lockett will be worth one or two mid-late round picks, something very affordable for LA. Seattle also needs a way to open some cap space, similar to what the Chargers did with Allen, making this a possibility for both sides.
Chris Godwin: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin only has one year left on his contract, making this option more of a short-term rental than Lockett. Making around $20 million annually, LA would most likely have to figure out a contract agreement with him before making a trade to align him with Herbert for longer. Godwin, who has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in four of the last five seasons, would be much more difficult to attain than Lockett, as his asking price in terms of picks should be far more valuable than Lockett. As seen with his ability to help Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense this past season, his presence next to Herbert would elevate his game to an even higher level.
Courtland Sutton: Denver Broncos
This option is the least viable of the three for LA, but still would be a great veteran presence in this receiving room. Sutton’s big-play and spectacular catch capabilities make him an asset, as seen in 2023 when Russell Wilson would throw the ball seemingly anywhere within arm’s reach and Sutton would haul it in. He is under contract for the next two years for just over $15 million per year and has been rumored as a possible trade candidate league wide as Denver tries to claw out of their poor cap situation. He has shown great durability since suffering an ACL tear in 2020 but having that in his history does waive a slight red flag as he continues to get older. Nonetheless, this would be another good addition for LA, and his price tag would be the cheapest of the three.
Do the Chargers need to make a move for a veteran in their room? No. This move would be helpful for Herbert and the offense, but it is by no means necessary. The team has done a good job of digging out of its salary cap fiasco created by former General Manager Tom Telesco, and could delegate some of the now available room to this.
