After the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the Chargers’ wide receiver core is arguably the thinnest positional group on the roster.
As it stands, Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston highlight the room.
General manager Joe Hortiz, who spoke to local reporters on Thursday, said he is “really excited” about Palmer taking on a bigger role. He noted Johnston’s rough rookie season but added that he has seen “some really impressive traits” on film, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.
Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game in 2023 while missing seven games (six to a knee injury and one to a concussion). He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Johnston struggled to find his footing in his rookie campaign, finishing with just 431 yards in 17 games. He said earlier this offseason that he expects a “breakout” under Jim Harbaugh.
Hortiz said that they’re not done building the room, as there are still free agents on the market and a talented wide receiver class in this year’s draft.
“It is a position we need to add pieces to. We have free agency still. There’s players out there in free agency that we like. There’s also a really strong draft of wide receivers, and there’s going to be players that come available after the draft, whether they’re still out there in free agency or they get released.”
“…Because with all the wideouts in the draft this year, there’s going to be other teams that draft wideouts, and they’re going to end up releasing good wideouts. … Good wide receivers are going to become available, whether it’s through cuts, cap casualties or trades.”
The Chargers have the No. 5 overall selection, and there is a good chance of there being one of the top wideouts available when they’re on the clock, whether that be Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze.