Ranking LA Chargers rookies on 2020 impact: 2. Joe Reed
I think that Joe Reed is going to have a much bigger impact on the 2020 LA Chargers than K.J. Hill, and it is not just because we have the same last name and he is wearing my favorite number 12 (okay, maybe it plays a small role… I need a jersey!).
All jokes aside, Reed is going to be an impactful player in multiple facets of the game and that is naturally going to make his impact much more significant than Kelley and Hill. Reed is a really good return man and he is hopefully going to give the Chargers a consistent, solid return man on kickoffs at the very least.
I also like his ability as a gadget-play player as well. I think this is an offense that is going to be more creative than years past and I think we are going to see a fair amount of plays schemed up for Reed that include end-arounds, screens and perhaps even dedicated runs.
And as I already alluded to in the Hill slide, I think it is best for the Chargers to at least give Keenan Allen a decent number of looks in the slot and Reed then becomes the favorite to line up at the outside.
While he would still be the fourth target in the offense, he is a deep threat that could be on the receiving end of some big plays, which improves his overall numbers.
The Chargers obviously liked Reed and liked him more than K.J. Hill, hence why they picked Reed in the fifth and Hill in the seventh. There are going to be more dedicated things drawn up for Reed in the offense.