Wide receiver is arguably the biggest roster need for the LA Chargers heading into the 2025 offseason. With so many big names available both in free agency and on the trade market, the Chargers truly do have their choice of wide receiver help.
While they all may seem like home runs because of the name value, some choices are inherently far better than others. The Chargers shouldn't add wide receiver help just for the sake of it and should be calculated about who the team adds.
Star wide receivers the Chargers should add:
Tee Higgins
Tee Higgins is the biggest wide receiver on the free-agent market and the Chargers definitely should be interested in adding his services. Higgins has played a crucial role in the Cincinnati Bengals' success and would give the Chargers the top-tier wideout they need.
Regression isn't an issue for the recently turned 26-year-old, who should be in his prime for at least the next four seasons. Signing Higgins won't come cheap, and could cost as much as $30 million a season, but it would be worth it for a Chargers team that desperately needs a top-tier wideout.
While there are other receivers on this list who the Chargers should add, none of them would have the same impact as Higgins.
DK Metcalf
DK Metcalf may not have as big of an impact on the Chargers as Higgins but he would still add a much-needed dynamic to the offense moving forward.
Metcalf may be on the trade block this offseason as Seattle potentially looks to reset the books considering the team is $27.5 million over the projected salary cap. Trading Metcalf would free up $10.8 million in cap space and would net the Seahawks value draft capital.
Metcalf is worth trading draft capital to and he is worth signing to an extension. Part of the luxury of having Ladd McConkey on a rookie deal is that the team can sign an expensive wideout and structure the cap hits to line up mostly with when McConkey is the cheapest.
Keenan Allen
A Keenan Allen reunion makes all the sense in the world if the Chargers strike out on the two biggest names this offseason. Heck, if the price is right, the Chargers could still add Allen with Higgins or Metcalf to really bolster the wide receiver room.
Allen may not be in his prime but he proved in 2024 he can still produce and there undoubtedly is still a connection there between he and Herbert. Allen would firmly slide in as the No. 2 receiver behind McConkey and would give the Chargers another reliable safety outlet who can create separation with his route running.
Derwin James is already petitioning to get Allen back in LA and the Chargers front office could soon be following suit.
Star wide receivers the Chargers should avoid:
Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp revealed the LA Rams are planning to trade him this offseason and while staying in Los Angeles makes sense on paper for the veteran wideout, it is not worth pursuing for the Chargers.
Kupp is one of the biggest names in the sport but the fact of the matter is he hasn't put together a full season since his All-Pro 2021 campaign and in that time has not even come close to scratching 1,000 yards.
The trade cost for Kupp would be relatively cheap but it would also come with absorbing his cap hit the next two seasons. It isn't worth trading draft capital and paying a premium cost for someone who averaged 59.2 receiving yards per game last season.
Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin may end up being the second-highest-paid wideout in free agency this offseason depending on how worried teams are about his health. Godwin missed 10 games in 2024 and as a result, finished with fewer than 600 yards for the first time since his rookie career.
The risk simply is not worth the price for the Chargers. Godwin is still on the right side of 30 and he is productive when healthy but the downside could be detrimental if the Bolts put all their eggs in the Godwin basket.
Amari Cooper
The Buffalo Bills traded a third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Amari Cooper only to hardly use him during the team's NFL Playoffs run. Cooper had an instant impact in Buffalo and appeared as if he would be instrumental in the team's success but that did not end up being the case.
Cooper is in a similar situation as Allen and will likely cost the same in free agency as a result. The Chargers are far better off allocating similar resources on someone they are familiar with in Allen.