The Los Angeles Chargers have completed the signings of their 2026 class of rookies with their finalization of Brenen Thompson's deal.
Thompson, 22, came into the Draft as one of the speediest players in his entire class, period. He posted a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his all-around athletic profile gives him an easy projection as, at the very least, a gadget slot receiver capable of stretching the defense at the NFL level.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel pushed for Los Angeles to select Thompson, and they ultimately got him in the fourth round, relatively close to where most draft analysts projected him to go. For a team in need of as much versatility in their wide receiver room as possible, the sky is the limit for Thompson currently.
The signing of his rookie deal simply puts a stamp on what could be one of the Chargers' most exciting additions of this offseason.
Brenen Thompson could come to play a major role in Mike McDaniel's offense, even if it's not in 2026
Thompson isn't just fast— he also has the college production to back it up. He led the entire SEC in receiving yards in 2025, posting 1,054 and six touchdowns on 57 receptions at Mississippi State. He played a vast majority of his snaps on the outside outside in college, and he should have a certain degree of upside there in the NFL as a downfield threat.
But where he'll fit most readily in McDaniel's offense is out of the slot. While Keenan Allen carved out a role there for the Chargers over the past few years as a possession receiver, McDaniel's scheme is much more focused on opportunities for yards after the catch, something Thompson should be able to provide with his blazing speed.
He'll start the season behind Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Tre' Harris, and probably KeAndre Lambert-Smith on the depth chart. But if Los Angeles is able to quickly turn him into a viable offensive weapon, his designated salary as a fourth-round pick will be a major boon to their roster construction.
Per Spotrac, here are the projected numbers for each year of Thompson's deal according to his selection as the 105th overall pick.
Total: $5,497,152
Year 1: $1,198,038
Year 2: $1,318,038
Year 3: $1,433,038
Year 4: $1,548,038
Whenever there's any sort of delay in the signing of a rookie deal, it usually comes down to ironing out the fine points of the guarantees. We don't yet have exact numbers on how those will be distributed across Thompson's contract.
But no matter what, this pick has the potential to quickly become a steal for the Chargers.
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