One of the smaller signings that the LA Chargers made this offseason was bringing in former Washington Commanders wide receiver, DeAndre Carter. Andre Roberts did great for the Bolts as a fill-in kick returner last season but Roberts' lack of offense value ultimately made the Chargers look for a different option.
Carter had similar success on special teams that Roberts has had but more importantly, had value on the offensive side of the football. He was by no means an elite receiver that would be among the top three on the depth chart, but he certainly had value.
The now-former Commander is proving that already during Chargers training camp. Carter has been among the most impactful players during camp, proving that he is indeed the team's secret weapon for this upcoming season.
On Friday Carter turned heads by returning the first kickoff of practice to the house for six. Don't love what what means for the kickoff team but it is impossible to not get excited about the prospects of Carter returning kicks this season.
First kickoff of special teams work, DeAndre Carter returned it for a touchdown. #Chargers
— Nick Cothrel (@NickCothrel) August 5, 2022
Carter hasn't just turned heads in Ryan Ficken's new special teams, though. He has also proven his potential on the offensive side of the football, particularly as a really good red-zone threat for Justin Herbert. Carter hauled in two touchdowns in red-zone drills earlier this week and proved both his versatility and his ability to make tacklers miss with the football.
With DeAndre Carter, the LA Chargers have a loaded wide receiver room in 2022.
If DeAndre Carter can have the kind of offensive impact that we are expecting him to have in 2022 then there is a case to be made for the Chargers having one of the best receiver rooms in the entire spot. Los Angeles already has one of the best receiving duos in the league in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and the depth behind them is getting much better.
Josh Palmer is primed for a big breakout season in his second year and has essentially cemented himself as the WR3. His overall numbers won't be massive just because of how the targets will be distributed but the jump in play will be noticeable.
Then behind him, you have the duo of Carter and Jalen Guyton, who offer two very different things. Carter is a versatile weapon that the Chargers can use in a multitude of ways both in route-running and in plays behind the line of scrimmage that get him the football and allow him to use his playmaking ability.
Then there is Guyton, who is kind of one-dimensional as a receiver but has absolute burners. Guyton is that over-the-top speed threat that the team can utilize in spread formations to open up the defense. We've all seen what a Justin Herbert-Jalen Guyton touchdown bomb looks like.
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All in all, it is impossible not to be excited about the weapons that Justin Herbert has this season and DeAndre Carter only makes those weapons better.