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Chargers Preseason Report: Wide Receivers

Position Group Grade: B+

The strength of the Chargers offense is at wide receiver. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are among the best duos in the National Football League. The issue is getting both to play together consistently. Through the first 9 games of last season, the duo combined for just 43 total snaps and the Chargers went 5-4 during those contests. From Week 14-18 when both players were in the lineup, the Chargers went 4-1. Add in Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer, this group has an opportunity to really shine.


X Wide Receiver: Mike Williams

Grade: B+

We didn't get a full season of Mike Williams last year but he still finished with 63 receptions on 90 targets for 895 yards and 4 touchdown receptions across 13 games. He was only credited with 1 drop and finished in the top-20 in contested catch%. Williams has ascended in each season, and has improved his ability to separate from defenders, going from 2.0 yards of separation in 2019 to 2.8 last year. That is better than AJ Brown (2.6), Terry McLauren (2.5), Amari Cooper (2.5), Mike Evans (2.6), Garrett Wilson (2.6), Chris Olave (2.7), and Tee Higgins (2.5).


Williams draws double coverage to the deep part of the field, and bodies multiple defenders to make acrobatic catches look routine. His highlight reels are full of crazy bombs where he effortlessly overpowers smaller defensive backs for huge gains, but he's gotten better to the short parts of the field also. Williams is set to take over the Chargers No.1 duties at receiver for his sure hands, and confidence Justin Herbert has in his ability to find a way to turn 50-50 balls into 80-20.


Z Wide Receiver: Quentin Johnston Grade: B-


Early reports out of OTA's was that Quentin Johnson had already won a starting position in the Chargers offense. While impressive, the real evaluation comes when the pads come on. There is still a battle between Josh Palmer, who sat out of OTA's rehabbing an injury, and the Chargers first round pick. Johnston offers more long term upside, but Palmer has more time in the league, and is a viable three himself. This is no gimme for Johnston.


Johnston is the future for the Chargers at wide receiver. His blend of size mixed with run after the catch ability is abnormal. Not many 6'4 wide receivers double as run after the catch specialists, but Johnston has the rare ability to win to all areas of the field. He can win over the top and he can take a slant the distance. He has a skill set similar to


Slot Wide Receiver: Keenan Allen

Grade: B+

Keenan Allen played in just 10 games last year due to a nagging hamstring injury, but when he did play, he made his presence felt. From Week-10 to Week-17, Allen averaged 85 yards and 7.5 receptions, which is more than enough to show that he was still an effective piece in the Chargers offense. In recent years though, Allen has struggled to stay healthy, and it's hurt the offense, especially when they are trying to keep drives alive on third down.


Allen isn't the All Pro caliber player he once was, but he is still the Chargers go to player in the passing game. He uses high IQ and awareness of coverages to find gaps in the defense. That play style should mean that he is able to remain an effective piece as he enters year 11 in the NFL. He was never the Chargers deep threat, and all his production has been in the short to intermediate part of the field. With Quentin Johnston and Mike Williams working the intermediate to deep part of the field, Allen is the Chargers saftey valve in the offense.


2nd String: Joshua Palmer Grade: C+


Joshua Palmer has worn many hats for the Chargers since he entered the league as a 3rd round draft pick in 2021. He's primary role has been filling in for which ever injured player the Chargers have missed. He's lined up as the X wide receiver for Mike Williams, in the slot for Keenan Allen, and been the motion man at Z when the Chargers have been at full health. That ability to slide into wherever the Chargers needed has given them versatility and flexibility in the offense.


Palmer will likely open the season as the Chargers starting Z wide receiver, but expect Quentin Johnston to eat into his snaps and eventually become the starter. That's not a slight on Palmer, just an expectation of a first round draft pick. Palmer should still see a healthy number of targets this season, especially with Keenan Allen's and Mike Williams injury history. He's improved each year, just hasn't developed into a full time starter role. He had a chance to breakout last season but it didn't come to fruition as expected.


3rd String: Derius Davis Grade: KR/PR - B | WR - F

Derius Davis likely won't see many snaps this season as a true wide receiver. His best chance at playing time will be as a returner, and in a gadget role where the Chargers can take advantage of his speed. He is a light player with a small catch radius, and he had very little production to the deep part of the field at TCU. That being said, his speed is something special that needs to be talked about!


No player in the NFL or NCAA clocked a faster mph (23.47) than Davis last season. In fact, he was the only player to clock over 23.0 mph. The former 2017 and 2018 Louisiana State Track winner in the 400-meter has Tyreek Hill-like straight line speed without the short area quickness. That straight line speed makes him an expectional returner and a big reason why had 6 total special teams touchdowns, winning the Jet Award as the nations best special teams returner.


3rd String: Jalen Guyton

Grade: C-


Jalen Guyton has been on the receiving end on many of Justin Herbert's highlight reels. Guyton was a former undrafted free agent who worked his way from the practice squad into the Chargers wide receiver rotation. He struggled with drops early in his career, but has improved each season in that area of his game. Guyton's primary role is as a speed threat to the deep part of the field.


Many expect the Chargers to carry six wide receivers on their final 53-man roster, but if there is a player on the chopping block, it's Guyton. He offers little as a special teams coach player, and his role as a deep threat can be replaced by Quentin Johnston, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer. If the Chargers need a speed decoy, Derius Davis can fill that role also. The fact that Davis was a 4th round pick makes him a lock to make the roster, even if the plan isn't for him to play wide receiver. If the Chargers want to build a deep roster with special teams players, Guyton is expendable.



Other Wide Receivers

The Chargers have 11 total wide receivers on their roster with five spots locked on the 53-man roster, and no guarantee of a 6th making their roster. There is a chance that a player like Keelen Doss or John Hightower could make the 53-man roster if the coaching staff believes they can become better players than Jalen Guyton, or one of them offers value to the special teams units that Guyton does not. John Hightower in particular has stood out in the early days of training camp. Pokey Wilson managed to make some plays during OTA's while Tyrell Bynam and Darius Shepard are two other unknown undrafted free agents that could make a push.


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