LA Chargers draft: 1 receiver to be excited about from rounds 3-7

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver Tylan Wallace #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reaches back to catch a 40-yard pass against defensive back DaMarcus Fields #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders to set up a touchdown from the seven yard line in the second quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 50-44. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

LA Chargers’ fifth-round receiver: Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Ihmir Smith-Marsette is one of the few receivers that I have selected in my previous LA Chargers mock drafts, typically in the fifth round. Like Wallace, Smith-Marsette is a prototypical Z receiver and the hope would be that after one season he would be ready to line up out wide opposite of Keenan Allen.

Smith-Marsette is extremely athletic (but what receiver isn’t athletic nowadays) and did not benefit from his quarterback play in college. In fact, Smith-Marsette’s draft stock is likely a bit too low because of his shoddy quarterback play.

Smith-Marsette had Nathan Stanley and Spencer Petras throwing him passes the last two years and his production was not very high as a result. In a combined 20 games the last two seasons, Smith-Marsette recorded 69 receptions for 1,067 yards and nine touchdowns.

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His physical tools indicate that there could be more there. Smith-Marsette has the size to be a vertical threat (six-two) and is similar to Joe Reed in that he can make people miss with the football in his hands, making him a threat on gadget plays, and more importantly, special teams.

Tom Telesco may pass on Smith-Marsette, though. He was arrested for OWI (operating while intoxicated) and has an injury history at Iowa.

Injury history has never stopped Tom Telesco before but the arrest may. If Telesco looks past that, Smith-Marsette has sleeper potential written all over him.