While Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has hit some of his early round picks out of the park, but he has also managed to haul in a few late-round gems in the NFL draft.
Telesco is hoping the same is true for his Day 3 selections in this past year’s draft, which include running back Joshua Kelley and wide receivers Joe Reed and K.J. Hill.
For Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski, he believes that Reed could be Los Angeles’ surprise gem, highlighting his offensive versatility.
The Los Angeles Chargers will find ways to utilize fifth-round pick Joe Reed.
“He can do a lot of things for us,” general manager Tom Telesco said, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Jeff Miller. “So we’ll get him in here and see where he fits.”
Head coach Anthony Lynn called Reed a “multipurpose threat.”
If the Chargers are truly creative, the 2019 Jet Award winner can come in and serve in a similar role as Cordarrelle Patterson, Percy Harvin or Josh Cribbs. He may never be a full-time wide receiver, yet he can impact a game through a variety of roles.
During his four seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Reed accumulated 1,465 receiving yards, 172 rushing yards, 3,042 kick return yards and 22 total touchdowns, including five on special teams.
Reed will be used as a versatile pass-catcher, lining up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield. He will be used in sweeps, shovel passes and slants, similar to the role that the 49ers gave Deebo Samuel last season and the same way someone like Percy Harvin was used.
Even though he wasn’t tasked to push down the field vertically often in college, Reed has the speed to turn into the deep threat that Los Angeles could benefit from. He will just need to refine his separation technique.
Along with that, he should provide an immediate spark in the return game, given his impressive production for the Cavaliers, which included becoming the first player in school history with two kickoff returns in the same season.
“Whatever the coaches ask of me, I have the ability to go out there and do it and just not be a one-dimensional receiver,” Reed said per Draft Wire’s Michelle Bruton.