Projecting the 2024 Chargers wide receiver depth chart

ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently ranked the LA Chargers' skill players (RBs, WRs, TEs) dead last in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season.

While Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett's departures certainly hurt said rankings, it was losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams that leaves the current WR room as uncertain as it is. It'll be up to Josh Palmer and company to prove there's still a fearsome group that wants to compete in Los Angeles.

Let's dive into how the WR depth chart may shake out.

Projected Chargers WR depth chart:

WR1: Joshua Palmer

Joshua Palmer enters the season as Justin Herbert's most trusted target on offense. In his first three NFL seasons, he's accumulated over 1,700 yards and nine touchdowns.

Obviously, this is the first time the calculus has shifted this much for Palmer and the Chargers roster-wise entering a regular season. The Tennessee product acknowledged how "definitely different" it is without Allen or Williams in the picture, but vowed to "move forward" in a media availability this offseason.

Knee injuries and reaggravations set Palmer back in 2023 with an IR stint. As the Chargers get closer to the regular season, he should get back to full speed and full reps in practices soon. WRs coach Sanjay Lal noted that Palmer was making positive injury recovery progress earlier this offseason.

While things are different this offseason, Palmer isn't completely inexperienced with being the teams' WR1. At various points throughout the years, he has seen what it's like to be the teams' WR1 or 2 due to injury absences from the aforementioned departed Chargers' star wideouts.

Despite being a really efficient player in his first three seasons, the test will now be if Palmer can carry the load offensively as the top wide receiver in the room for 17 games.

WR2: Quentin Johnston

Quentin Johnston comes off of a turbulent rookie campaign. Johnston himself has acknowledged that his rookie year didn't play out quite how he wanted it to. At a media availability this offseason, Johnston said that the Green Bay drop in particular sticks with him and can be used as a motivational tool.

However, the rough season wasn't just about the drops. Johnston was 22nd amongst all rookies in yards per route run with an average of 0.88. He also had a negative raw average PFF separation grade for most of the season. Johnston was never quite polished enough to routinely be a weapon for Herbert.

Not all hope should be lost. Johnston can still be a dynamic playmaker if used accordingly. In college, he led the nation in missed tackles forced and yards after catch per reception. But for the Chargers' 2023 first-round pick to be a true explosive play threat, he has to get a better grasp on the fundamental issues that plagued him in year one.

WR3: Ladd McConkey

Ladd McConkey enters training camp as certainly the clubhouse favorite for the top slot receiver role. The Athletic's Daniel Popper and other Chargers' beat reporters have noted his consistent connection with Herbert in practices. Some even believe that perhaps by volume and production, he could end up being the team's WR1.

McConkey was the fourth-best receiver at creating separation in college last year and second-best statistically when the ball was in the air. He was also WR5 in regards to YAC per reception.

Injuries could be a potential question mark as McConkey missed time due to an ankle injury last season. But outside of 2023, McConkey played in 15 games in each of the last two seasons prior.

WR4: DJ Chark

The Chargers signed DJ Chark to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million after the NFL Draft. Chark will play for his fourth team in four years if he were to make LA's roster in 2024. After being together in Jacksonville a few seasons ago, the former Jags receiver reunites with WRs coach Sanjay Lal.

Since an ankle injury in 2021 and ankle surgery last offseason, he's struggled to find his old form. Chark hasn't eclipsed 600 yards in a season since 2020. He's a serviceable body in a smaller role as a more traditional X than most on the Chargers' roster though, so there's a role for him in that regard. But Chark had a drop rate of 12.5% last year with a separation score similar to that of the aforementioned Johnston.

The Chargers' hope is that Chark's issues over the last few years have been QB/offense-related after stints in Jacksonville, Detroit, and Carolina. Hopefully, he can form a meaningful connection with Herbert sooner rather than later.

WR5/ST: Derius Davis

Derius Davis comes off of a great rookie campaign where he earned second-team AP All-Pro honors as a punt returner. With Ryan Ficken back in the fold and the new XFL-style kickoffs that will be coming to the league, Davis' presence will be absolutely critical this season.

The question for the former TCU star is how involved he gets in the offense. Davis had just a handful of games where he got over 10 snaps with the offense last season. It seemed like getting him comfortable with special teams was more of a priority last season. Outside of a few trick plays, Kellen Moore didn't make a point of getting him involved prior to other receivers' injuries in the latter weeks of the season.

Training camp and preseason could tell us a lot about Davis' usage in Greg Roman's offense.

Rookie TBDs: Brenden Rice, Cornelius Johnson

Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice were both selected in the seventh round of the draft. HC Jim Harbaugh has suggested that the Chargers internally had both players graded much higher than that.

Brenden Rice has talked about how motivated he (and his father) is after falling later in the draft than he should've in his mind. As a receiver, Rice is still raw in terms of technique. But what will get him on the field sooner rather than later is the blocking component. TBD on receiving volume this season, but I'd certainly expect him to be part of special teams.

The same can be said about Cornelius Johnson, a huge part of Michigan's special teams over the years. Johnson almost led the country in punt blocks in 2021. In addition to his quickness in that aspect, assistant GM Chad Alexander mentioned that he might consider him the best blocker on offense or special teams in the draft.

Others: Simi Fehoko, Praise Olatoke, and UDFAs

Simi Fehoko is a holdover from last season who will at least get the chance to compete for a final roster spot. If not, he could certainly be in contention for the practice squad. It's just tough to find room for him on the main roster with all of the wideouts the Chargers have added.

The Chargers added Nigerian-Scottish sprinter Praise Olatoke to their roster this offseason through the NFL's IPP program. He spent some time with Ohio State's club football team in developing for the pros.

LA also signed Jaelen Gill, Jaylen Johnson, and Leon Johnson as undrafted free agents.

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