3 things that must happen for the Chargers to draft a first-round wide receiver
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers have a big offseason in 2022 as the team is looking to build on the 9-8 season in 2021 and capitalize on the window that is present with Justin Herbert's rookie contract. The Bolts are always going to be competitive as long as Herbert is the quarterback but NFL history shows that rookie contract windows are the best time to build a contender.
The Chargers have the second-most projected cap space this offseason (with more on the way with the inevitable Bryan Bulaga release) as well as 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. If there was ever an offseason for Tom Telesco to prove his naysayers wrong, it is the 2022 offseason.
The Chargers have a multitude of needs with several big-name expiring free agents. With so many variables this offseason, there is a multitude of directions the team could go. They could spend big money on a wide receiver like Davante Adams, or they could simply franchise tag Mike Williams and sign lesser deals around him.
The team can sign a big-money defensive player after seeing the defense struggle so much last season, or the team can draft a knockout corner like Ahmad Gardner in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
One possibility that should not be ruled out is the LA Chargers drafting a wide receiver in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
While I would not call it the most likely scenario, there is a world in which the Chargers draft a receiver with the 17th overall pick, especially after seeing the shootout between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs and realizing that they're missing an important part to the offensive puzzle; a speedy, YAC receiver.
As you know, free agency comes before the 2022 NFL Draft and the team's actions in free agency is going to essentially tell us what positions the Bolts are targeting in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. With that being said, there are three specific things that must happen for the Chargers to draft a first-round receiver, like Jameson Williams.
Let's dive into those three things.