Chargers mock draft: Bolts add intriguing Mike Williams replacement

Chargers mock draft, pick 71: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State

Here is your Mike Williams replacement. As it stands right now, Wilson is projected to be a late third-round or even early fourth-round pick. But as we have seen time and time again, pre-draft projections are thrown out the window in the middle rounds. If a team likes someone, they will "reach" to get him. That is what the Bolts did last year with Derius Davis.

Plus, Wilson is a prime candidate to move up the draft board as the process goes along. The six-foot-seven — yes, you read that correctly — receiver can only benefit from the NFL Combine. If Wilson comes in faster than expected (he definitely isn't slow) then teams are going to fall in love with his physical traits.

There are areas of Wilson's game that need work, hence why he is a mid-round prospect, not a top prospect. His route tree is fairly limited and he will likely fail to create much separation on his own at the NFL level.

However, on the flip side, Wilson is six-foot-seven and has learned to play into that frame. Wilson is one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football and he would replace that Williams dynamic in the Chargers offense. He would instantly be a red-zone threat for the Bolts and is someone whom Justin Herbert could be comfortable throwing the deep ball to.

He may never blossom into a true WR1, but he would round out next year's room nicely. The Chargers would have the veteran who can still get open (Keenan Allen, assuming he stays), a complementary WR2 who is really good when healthy (Joshua Palmer), a short-yardage YAC option that will hopefully be used properly (Quentin Johnston) and a jump-ball contested-catch machine that can thrive inside the 20 (Wilson).

It might not be Malik Nabers but that is not a bad outlook for the 2024 season, especially when you throw Brock Bowers into the mix.