The Los Angeles Chargers have long struggled to find the dominant wideout they've needed to truly make their offense click.
Over the past couple of seasons, they've gotten by with a combination of Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, and their re-addition of Keenan Allen in 2025 gave them a strong veteran target for Justin Herbert. But they've had a number of prospects try and fail to reach the lofty heights they've hoped for.
One of the most disappointing of these developments was Joshua Palmer, whom the Chargers selected 77th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. When he came into the league, many fans had high hopes for Palmer. His size and route-running abilities made it seem like he had room to grow into a truly dominant receiver at the NFL level.
Instead, Palmer's production was disappointing through his four seasons in Los Angeles. But now that he is with the Buffalo Bills, his name has appeared on a list that may surprise many Chargers fans.
According to Kristopher Knox at Bleacher Report, Palmer is one of the league's prime cut candidates after the early waves of free agency.
Joshua Palmer could soon be looking for a new home just one season after leaving Los Angeles
Palmer never quite found his footing with the Chargers. Through four seasons in Los Angeles, he amassed just 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 receptions. Instead of doubling down on his role in the offense with an extension, the organization chose to let him walk. They quickly filled his spot by drafting both Tre' Harris and Ke'Andre Lambert-Smith last offseason.
Palmer signed a three-year, $29 million contract with the Bills. It seemed like a solid upside pickup for Buffalo at the time.
But through 12 games with the Bills in 2025, Palmer posted just 22 receptions for 303 yards on 37 targets. Even on a Buffalo team in desperate need of receiving depth, he failed to carve out a consistent role.
Now that the Bills have made a blockbuster trade for D.J. Moore, their receiving hierarchy is more concrete. If they choose to hang onto Keon Coleman, whom new head coach Joe Brady has publicly expressed his fondness for, Palmer could quickly be facing the end of his time with that organization.
Buffalo would save about $2.3 million in cap space by cutting Palmer after June 1.
It's not as though there won't be more opportunities for Palmer. Once-promising prospects tend to stay in the league a bit longer than their performance might merit.
But this draft class at wide receiver is ultra-deep. Rather than taking a swing on a sixth-year wideout such as Palmer, organizations may prefer to use Day 2 draft capital to fill out that position on their depth chart.
Palmer, therefore, could soon be facing a harsh reality. At the very least, his inclusion on Bleacher Report's list is surprisingly reasonable.