Huge NFL injury gives Chargers newfound competition on WR trade market

The LA Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the sport and have not done a great job of supporting him in the passing game. While Ladd McConkey's promising rookie season has been great to watch, Justin Herbert needs more help in the passing game if the Chargers are going to be a serious playoff contender.

General manager Joe Hortiz has already proven he will be aggressive in the market if a perceived need must be filled. Hortiz and the Chargers may have passed on Diontae Johnson, who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but there are still several options on the trade market the Chargers should consider.

The Chargers are not the only team in the league that needs wide receiver help and there could be even more competition on the way. Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL that may put his team firmly in the wide receiver trade market.

Stefon Diggs injury may force Texans into wide receiver trade market alongside Chargers

The Texans also have a young franchise quarterback in CJ Stroud but are much closer to winning a Super Bowl than the Chargers are. Houston has been extremely aggressive in capitalizing on this rookie-contract window with Stroud and that may continue with the deadline.

Nico Collins is also on the IR and while he is expected to return in the not-so-distant future, the Texans could still use more wideout depth to maximize the ceiling of the offense.

Houston is not going to find anyone on the market who is going to replace what Diggs brought to the offense but they could add a complementary third option. That could be with Mike Williams' ability to make contested catches or with Darius Slayton's shiftiness and athleticism. Whatever route the Texans take, the team can add help.

Houston is also more inclined to make a trade than the Chargers. While Los Angeles needs wide receiver help, the team does not have the same Super Bowl ceiling as the Texans. With that in mind, it is safe to assume the Texans would outbid the Chargers for a receiver if both teams were all in on the same guy.

Ultimately, as much as the Chargers need wide receiver help, and have the assets to pull off a trade, the team is not in a position to overspend for someone who does not create a Super Bowl window.

Nobody on the trade market does that, so if the Chargers do find themselves in a bidding war with the Texans it is best to back out. But then again, maybe that is why the team should have just traded for Diontae Johnson in the first place.