Chargers prospects: Wide receivers to watch for

This is where fans love Tom Telesco and his ability to find talent late, such as Desmond King and Drue Tranquill. Who is it this year?

We’ve gone through quite a few guys up to this point. All of them playmakers, all of them having the potential to be top tier guys. This is maybe the deepest class in history, so there are a few choices here to pick for the three options on day three. Coming up first, a man hampered by injury and Shea Patterson.

Tarik Black

Listed at 6-4, 210 pounds, Tarik Black out of Michigan has had a frustrating college career to say the least, but his pro potential is off the charts. Any time you have a tall receiver such as Black projected to run in the 4.4 range, they are going to get attention.

The concerning part of Black’s game is the separation, the number one trait a wide receiver can have. Black doesn’t separate well with his route running, and relies heavily on his athleticism and size rather than technique. He struggles to shake off defensive backs at the top of his route, and occasionally struggles off the release.

All that said, Black has a high ceiling. His ability to absolutely manhandle defensive backs at the point of the catch is second to none, as he will pry the ball out like his hands are crowbars and the opponent’s hands are a plastic door.

He is a fantastic runner, able to turn upfield as he is catching the ball and not have many problems with securing the catch in the process. On a personal note, his body control is vastly underrated, as he can sometimes linger in the air for an extra second to make the grab on a contested catch.

Overall, you won’t hear a single complaint if Black is the pick even in round four, the potential is too much despite the sketchy route running and separation. Courtland Sutton and Mike Williams had similar concerns and look how that has panned out. If you have the necessary receivers around you that can teach you the nuances and techniques, you will be fine. Allen and Williams are the perfect tutors for Black.

Denzel Mims

Do you ever hear the phrase, “my guy” when an analyst is discussing prospects? Well, this is “the guy” of the article. Denzel Mims is going to skyrocket up draft boards as the season goes on and he gets to the senior bowl.

Listed at 6-3, 200 pounds out of Baylor, Mims might have the best radius in the class. What does that mean? Well, including things such as wing span and vertical, it’s how far can the ball be from the receiver’s body to where he still has an opportunity to make the catch?

Maybe that doesn’t explain it best, so let’s rephrase a bit. Basically, it means the quarterback can throw it anywhere in Mims’ vicinity, and Mims will go make a play on that ball. Was it five yards overthrown? Mims is probably going to catch it.

While Mims may not record an eye popping 40 time, don’t let it fool you, he has the speed down the field and some incredibly fast feet for his length. Mims is a bit better than Black is when it comes to route running and getting separation from a defender, but still struggles with the nuances of route running, specifically in keeping his feet between his frame, losing his balance or giving away the route early.

Also has some moments where he looks extremely slow out of his cuts, but it is an inconsistent problem, and probably just a technique problem that can be fixed.

While Mims has better separation and route running than Black, he doesn’t even compare when it comes to being aggressive and strong at the point of the catch. Black completely outclasses him when it comes to making those tough contested catches in traffic, as Mims doesn’t have those same crowbar traits that we talked about with Black.

That said, Mims shows more body control, as evident by his recent highlight catch along the sideline. You know the one. That play will rise him up some draft boards.

A Few Honorable Mentions

When you can’t narrow it down to one name, what do you do? Throw a bunch out there. I won’t go into detail on all of these guys, but here are a few names to look out for if you want to do some self-scouting or go look at some highlights.

Tyrie Cleveland, Florida: 6-2, 205 lbs.

Jeff Thomas, Miami: 5-10, 170 lbs.

Johnathon Johnson, Missouri: 5-10, 180 lbs.

If you want a favorite out of these three, it has to be Thomas. The Chargers, as mentioned numerous times above, really lack a speed threat, and Thomas is a guy that is much faster on tape than he is on the stopwatch.

That is all for this one, and there will be more to come in the future! Look out for some potential offensive linemen that the Chargers could take in the 2020 draft, as it is the next position that will be focused on.

Until then, check out some of the receivers that are listed to get you excited for next April!