There appears to be a lot of internal (and external) belief in Los Angeles Chargers fourth-round rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson. He’s made quite an early impression on the club’s offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, whose excitement has rubbed off on general manager Joe Hortiz.
Hortiz had some high praise for the Mississippi State product when addressing the media following the 2026 NFL Draft. He likened Thompson to a pair of the fastest and most explosive wideouts in league history: Tyreek Hill and DeSean Jackson.
"Tyreek's thicker than [Thompson] coming out, but that similar size, height, speed combination ... [Jackson] was definitely leaner," Hortiz stated.
Joe Hortiz fires up Chargers fans wiith lofty NFL comparisons for rookie WR Brenen Thompson
Talk about some lofty names. Few players have been more dangerous with the ball in their hands when right than Hill and Jackson, which the numbers and accolades bear out. If even a fraction of those comparisons hold up, Hortiz and the Chargers will have landed a game-changing weapon in Thompson.
Hill has eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yard mark in six of his 10 pro campaigns. The five-time All-Pro finished first in yards per touch thrice (2018, 2020, 2023), with the latest effort notably coming under McDaniel's tutelage. He's a rare talent in every sense of the word.
Then there's Jackson, who was arguably still football's top deep threat on the back nine of his career. He was the yards per reception leader in four different seasons (2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018). The three-time Pro Bowler's ability to take the top off the defense was something opposing teams had to be mindful of anytime they faced him.
Any semblance of either outcome would be a tremendous win for the Chargers. They chose Thompson with year's No. 105 overall pick, so star-level production is nothing short of a massive return on their investment. Either way, Los Angeles sounds poised to give him opportunities to showcase his dynamic skill set.
Injuries derailed Thompson throughout his collegiate tenure, though he stayed healthy and put it all together as a senior in 2025. The home-run hitter posted 57 catches for an SEC-best 1,054 receiving yards and six touchdowns. How a McDaniel-led Chargers offense with a big-armed quarterback like star Justin Herbert deploys him will be worth watching.
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