LA Chargers K.J. Hill Grade: The next great slot receiver?

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: K.J. Hill Jr. #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the BIG Ten Football Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: K.J. Hill Jr. #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the BIG Ten Football Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The LA Chargers made sure that they ended the 2020 NFL Draft with some fireworks by drafting receiver K.J. Hill.

With their seventh-round draft choice, the LA Chargers selected K.J. Hill wide, receiver out of Ohio State University. Let me start off by saying this was a great selection. The Chargers have been lacking some depth at the wide receiver position and now they have someone who could learn behind the likes of Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Now let’s dive into some info about him

Hill finished his collegiate career at Ohio State with 2,332 receiving yards and 20 TDs, also recording at least 50 receptions per season in his last three years with the Buckeyes. Not only that, but he is also now the all-time leader in receptions for the Buckeyes.

Running a 4.6 40 and having a 32-inch vertical show that he has decent speed and ability to jump and make the catch. Something the Chargers could use in a slot receiver.

What Hill lacks in the ability to burn defenders deep and his smaller frame, he makes up for with his reliable hands and ability to run great crisp routes with ease. Pairing another great route runner with the best route runner in the NFL in Allen is sure to cause havoc to teams when trying to defend.

Projected to go somewhere in the fourth round, the LA Chargers were able to make an incredible value pick here, which has seemed to be the trend this draft.

With this, we can expect him to have an immediate impact as a backup receiver and occasional slot starter, who has the potential and ceiling to develop into the next Julian Edelman or even Wes Welker.

Charger fans should be celebrating the fact that we were able to acquire this guy as late as we should and that Tom Telesco has added yet another weapon for Tyrod Taylor or potentially Justin Herbert to play around with.

Grade: B 

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