It will be a sad off-season for long-time Chargers fans, as veteran star receiver Keenan Allen will most likely be cut. The Chargers are $23+ million over the cap and can save around $14 million by releasing Allen, and they can save another $4.25 million by cutting Gerald Everett. Allen has been an exceptional receiver for the Chargers; a replacement must be found once Allen is let go. Since the Chargers have no capital, the replacement must be picked up via the draft.
The Chargers will have the 21st pick in this year’s draft, which presents an exciting scenario because this receiving draft class is an enigma. After the combine, it will be more accessible to determine how good this group is and where they should be drafted. There will be receivers worth drafting at 21. The two that would fit ideally next to Mike Williams are Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers. These guys are both speedy receivers that could complement the deep threat of Williams.
The significant need for the Chargers, outside of a new receiver, is getting their offensive line healthy. This line is vital to the success of both Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler. Rashawn Slater was phenomenal in his rookie year but was plagued by injuries in his second. If Slatter can return to form and Zion Johnson continues his progression, this line will be in adept hands for the foreseeable future.
The Chargers had a strong defense, boasting Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, and J.C. Jackson. And yet this defense underperformed. Much of it was because J.C. Jackson had a terrible year, either injured or getting burned by receivers while on the field. Was this defense not playing up to par, a thing that will continue to happen, or was it just a down year? Regardless, the Chargers must add talent and do so in the draft since they have zero cap space. The second-round corners the Chargers should consider are Emmanuel Forbes, Garrett Williams and Eli Ricks. All of these corners would be great additions to this defense that has to face Patrick Mahomes and maybe Aaron Rodgers.
If the corner that the Chargers like the most is gone, they could settle for their current personnel and instead of using that second-round pick on a TE. Darnell Washington and Luke Musgrave would be good additions, and Washington would give the Chargers an extra offensive lineman to block for Ekeler and Herbert. This team should make it right back into the playoffs, but they could also be caught watching from home. Their division is set to add Aaron Rodgers, the Chiefs will still be good, and the Broncos will be looking to take a jump with new head coach Sean Payton. However, all these teams were supposed to be good last year, and that projection blew up in flames.