The dust had settled for the LA Chargers after the initial wave of NFL free agency and the team only had three NFL-caliber wide receivers on the roster. While those three receivers are very talented, it goes without saying that three options are not enough for a viable NFL roster.
With the 2023 NFL Draft approaching, it became clear that the team would draft at least one receiver early on in order to add depth. But that still was not enough, which opened the door for the Bolts to potentially draft two receivers or even sign a veteran free-agent receiver for more depth.
Fans who were wondering what the team was going to do for wide receiver depth got part of the answer on Monday. The Bolts started their offseason workout program, which surprisingly included wide receiver Jalen Guyton. Guyton was a free agent, so him being part of practice was a genuine surprise. That was quickly then followed up with the confirmation that he was returning to the team.
Signed this morning, according to team spokesperson. https://t.co/RRreiexXOY
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) April 17, 2023
Chargers re-sign Jalen Guyton to bolster wide receiver room
This should be considered great news for the LA Chargers as Guyton's future was genuinely up in the air. While the team desperately needed the speed dynamic that he brought to the offense, it was fair to raise concerns about how productive he could be after he tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2022 season.
The Chargers don't seem to have any concerns about Guyton's potential production. Guyton, for the time being, now slots in as the WR4 on the roster and gives the Bolts the vertical speed threat that was so desperately lacking.
This also has a big potential impact on the 2023 NFL Draft. Now the chances of the team taking two receivers is less than it was before. LA also potentially reaching for a receiver just because they have speed could also be off the table. Unless someone that they really like falls to them at 21, the team may simply wait until later in the draft for someone who can replace DeAndre Carter.
Guyton was a popular target for Justin Herbert in 2020 and 2021. In those two seasons, the speedy receiver had 959 yards on 59 receptions with six touchdowns.
MUST-READ: Ranking Justin Herbert and the top 32 QBs in the NFL