LA Chargers: Ranking the 2021 rookies by projected first-year impact
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers had a compensatory pick and traded for an extra pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, bringing in a grand total of nine new players on the roster. As is with every draft, there is a pecking order on who might make the most impact.
It does not just go in the order that they were selected, though. It also has to do with the position they play, the players around them and the Chargers’ long-term plans. Some prospects will have bigger impacts right away while others will be a slow burn before they make an impact.
Let’s rank all of the Chargers’ new rookies in terms of our projected first-year impact in 2021.
Little to no impact for the LA Chargers outside of special teams:
- Mark Webb, Nick Niemann, Josh Palmer
Josh Palmer is the surprising name on this list but he finds himself fairly low on the LA Chargers depth chart. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Tyron Johnson all for sure have a spot ahead of him on the depth chart while Jalen Guyton likely does as well.
He will get some playing time in the event of an injury or late in the season if the Chargers are not playing for anything but really, this was a two-year selection by the Bolts as he will be the Mike Williams replacement.
Mark Webb and Nick Niemann were special teams selections through and through and there is nothing wrong with that, this team needs special teams help. Don’t be surprised if either of them stays on special teams exclusively for the rest of their Chargers careers.