Los Angeles Chargers: Team meets with Smith-Schuster at scouting combine
By Travis Wakeman
The annual NFL scouting combine is ongoing in Indianapolis, and teams are out measuring players by their 40-yard dash times and vertical jumps, among other drills. Those teams are also conducting individual meetings with players.
The Los Angeles Chargers have reportedly met with former USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster.
USC WR JuJu Smith Schuster has talked formerly to the Los Angeles #Rams and #Chargers at combine. Has also thrown with Jared Goff
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 3, 2017
Many fans have speculated that the Chargers will be in the market for some new blood at the wide receiver position. Whether that comes through free agency or the draft remains to be seen, but the name of Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams—arguably the top receiver in the draft—shows up on many mock drafts for the Chargers. Smith-Schuster would be a player the team would likely select on day two of the draft.
Smith-Schuster played in 40 games for the Trojans, posting massive numbers. His 213 receptions rank fourth in school history while his 3,092 yards are fifth. This is a school that has produced countless professional wide receivers, by the way. Some of those names include Lynn Swann, Robert Woods, Mike Williams and Marquise Lee.
Most of these meetings at the combine are generally just teams covering their bases, but Smith-Schuster would be an interesting prospect for the Chargers, and that goes beyond the L.A. connection.
For a look at all of the Chargers’ pre-draft meetings, which includes the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game, click here to view a list compiled by Walter Football.
More from Bolt Beat
- LA Chargers: 3 early takeaways from 2021 minicamp thus far
- LA Chargers: Drue Tranquill takes a jab at Gus Bradley’s defense
- LA Chargers second-year players: Nothing to lose and a lot to gain
- LA Chargers: Why running back could be a big issue for the Bolts
- LA Chargers: Chris Rumph’s upside is Melvin Ingram-like, but better
The team has Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. What do they have behind them? Not much. Allen has missed most of the last two seasons as well, and the need for a third wide receiver is a glaring hole if you ask me.
Yes, the team needs offensive linemen. That’s not a secret. But the team could draft Smith-Schuster in a later round in order to focus on bolstering the line in earlier rounds.
At 6’2″ and 220 pounds, he has prototypical size for an NFL wide receiver. There are plenty of receiver-needy teams around the league, so if the Chargers are truly interested in him, they’ll likely need to act quick.
Then there’s the fact that he was born in Long Beach and went to college in Los Angeles. If the Chargers don’t do anything else, perhaps they can appeal to some of the local fans by adding a player like him.