The battle for the third wide receiver will be one of the most compelling position competitions this training camp for the Chargers.
On Friday, I laid out what the team is specifically looking for and who might be the frontrunner.
Andre Patton was who I believed would win the job because of his experience. But in a surprising fashion, Patton was among six players released to get the roster down to 80 players.
With Patton gone, the attention has been shifted to two specific players – Joe Reed and K.J. Hill – both of whom provide the position with their own unique skillsets.
Reed, the fifth-round pick, can provide some versatility as he has experience out wide, in the slot and occasionally in the backfield. He can be used in sweeps, shovel passes and slants, similar to the role that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel last season. He has the speed that the Chargers are looking for (4.47) to stretch the field.
Reed should help out with special teams as he averaged 33 yards a return and took five touchdowns to the house during his career at the University of Virginia.
Meanwhile, Hill, the seventh-round selection, isn’t the fastest wideout, but he has a knack for getting open and catching everything thrown his way. That’s a large reason why Hill is Ohio State’s reception leader (201). Even though he will likely be limited to the slot, Keenan Allen, the team’s natural slot receiver, is capable of playing outside.
Lynn specifically highlighted “speed” as the main thing the coaching staff is looking for during the evaluation process.
Therefore, I believe Reed has the slight advantage over Hill. A player I mentioned that should get some attention heading into camp is Jalen Guyton. Guyton, who has the breakaway speed (4.3) to be a threat on the outside.
Mason Fine escapes heavy pressure and finds a wide-open Jalen Guyton in the endzone!
TOUCHDOWN @MeanGreenFB 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xsrfyUV3oL
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 13, 2018