The NFL Combine starts this week in Indianapolis, with numerous college players trying to show NFL teams what they can contribute at the next level.
The Chargers coaching staff will be in Indy scouting and speaking with all the talent.
The Chargers are $20 million over the cap and will look to get down before free agency. One of the ways to get there is possibly cutting receiver Keenan Allen, which would save around $17.5 million, but it doesn’t seem like a Tom Telesco move.
Allen is up there in age, but the production is still there. He got hit with a hamstring injury last season but produced when he returned. They need to start looking for a future replacement.
They have the 21st pick in the NFL Draft and have numerous ways they can go with the selection.
One of their most significant needs is a wide receiver with some speed. Numerous draft analysts say no receiver compares to Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
There is talent, though.
- TCU WR Quentin Johnston
He is the top receiver on many draft boards because of his big play ability. Johnston is a receiver that releases off the line well and makes the opposing corner slip or shuffle their feet. When quarterback Max Duggan was in trouble, he looked for number one to make a play.
When Johnston catches the ball, he has the ability to take a five-yard catch and turn it into a 70-yard touchdown. He could add some significant firepower to the Chargers offense with Allen and Mike Williams. Justin Herbert would love to have a receiver like Johnston.
NFL comparison: Bengals receiver Tee Higgins
This isn’t a bad comparison, and having a receiver like Higgins has made Joe Burrow’s life easier, especially when Chase is doubled up.
2. Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Flowers is a bolt of electricity. Anytime he touches the ball, he will take flight with it and could take it to the house. He grew into his role at Boston College so did his production on the field. He is coming off a 1,000-yard receiving season and 12 touchdowns to go along with it.
Two knocks Flowers has is size but put on 13 pounds of muscles working out at PER4ORM in South Florida, according to a tweet from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The other knock is that he drops the football, but that is something, like his size, that can be fixed with time.
He would add a dynamic weapon that, in Kellen Moore’s system, could have a big rookie season for the Chargers, especially with the group of receivers they already have in-house.
NFL comparison: Tyler Lockett
Lockett has always been a great weapon for the Seahawks and creates big plays or touchdowns when needed.
3. Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
Hyatt is considered one of the most explosive receivers in college football. Once he gets to the second level after the ball is snapped, he hits a different gear that most cornerbacks and safeties aren’t ready for when he comes their way. Once he has the ball in his hands, he is able to break away from the defender.
There are some negatives. One is whether this was a one-year wonder because he combined for 500 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons. He exploded for over 1,267 yards in his junior year while adding 15 touchdowns. Another negative is that he played mostly in the slot, so he doesn’t play against press-man coverage that an outside receiver would see.
NFL comparison: Wil Fuller
Hyatt is explosive, but there are question marks on if he is more suited to be a second-round pick. Fuller struggled to adjust to the NFL at first. He always seemed hurt, but the explosiveness and homerun-hitting ability were there when he was on the field.
