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Chargers’ Free-Agent Target: Rueben Randle

By Travis Wakeman

Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) gives New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) a stiff arm after a pass reception during the second half at MetLife Stadium. New England Patriots defeat the New York Giants 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) gives New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) a stiff arm after a pass reception during the second half at MetLife Stadium. New England Patriots defeat the New York Giants 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim O /
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The San Diego Chargers are a team with many needs as we head toward the start of the free-agent signing period, which will be followed by the NFL draft. The team needs to shore up its offensive line and find more depth for a secondary that struggled last year.

But adding another playmaker at the wide receiver position should be high on the team’s agenda.

Yes, the offensive line had a difficult time protecting Philip Rivers last season, but the fact he didn’t have many proven options to throw to in the passing game, combined with all of the injuries at wide receiver, was also a key factor in the team losing 75 percent of its games.

If you scour the list of players set to hit the open market, there aren’t too many great options. The Chicago Bears will likely do everything in their power to retain Alshon Jefferyand Anquan Boldin is 35 years old.

But if you go down the list a little further, there is a name that jumps out and that’s Rueben Randle. Having spent the past four seasons with the New York Giants, the former second-round pick has responded when Eli Manning has looked his way.

Randle has 188 receptions and 20 touchdowns during his time in New York while only being targeted an average of 5.1 times per game in 64 career games.

But the Giants have Odell Beckham and they expect to get Victor Cruz back next season. Even with Cruz missing the entire season in 2015, Randle only caught 57 passes. The Giants just don’t seem to call his number enough and with Beckham and Cruz on the field, he’ll never be any better than the No. 3 option.

A change of scenery could do Randle well and the Chargers should push for that. The team needs a proven commodity on the other side of Keenan Allen. The team has some young options in Dontrelle Inman, Javontee Herndon and Tyrell Williams, but none of them are capable of being starters—at least not yet.

Rivers is 34 years old and may only have a couple more realistic chances to make a deep playoff run, so the team needs to surround him with as many weapons as possible. Ken Whisenhunt will be back as the team’s offensive coordinator, which Rivers should be happy about. Whisenhunt was with the team for one season in 2013, which was arguably the best of Rivers’ career, at least from a statistical standpoint.

Having Randle, Allen and Stevie Johnson would give the team a trio of proven veteran receivers. Plus, signing Randle shouldn’t break the bank. It’s a move the Chargers should consider once the signing period begins.

What would you think of Randle coming cross-country to San Diego?

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