The Los Angeles Chargers have some decisions to make on the hierarchy of their receiving corps in 2026.
The Chargers' picking up Quentin Johnston's fifth-year option likely indicates that he's in line for more consistent opportunities over the next two seasons. If Keenan Allen is gone, however, that means Ladd McConkey could quickly become Los Angeles' primary receiving threat. Both Tre' Harris and KeAndre Lambert Smith are also due for larger roles in their sophomore campaigns.
But their most intriguing piece could perhaps be a player who has yet to even play a snap in a Chargers uniform. Los Angeles selected speedy wide receiver Brenen Thompson out of Mississippi State in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Although he possesses serious upside as a potential special-teams threat, expect Mike McDaniel to utilize a receiver of his skill-set in the normal course of the offense. He presents a level of speed the Chargers did not possess in their offensive arsenal, and McDaniel loves to use that type of threat to both create major plays downfield and open up opportunities underneath.
But it's not just Chargers fans that are of this line of thinking. The Athletic's Eric Sando collected quotes from around the NFL on teams' respective draft classes, and here's what an anonymous NFL executive had to say about the Thompson pick:
“I like the little receiver they got in the fourth round... He was like 165 pounds, can absolutely fly and is one of the better route runners in the whole draft. Really dynamic. Has awareness, instincts. He’s got everything except for size... This guy has so much quickness, if the corner misses, he will go right by you, and he will scare them.” Anonymous NFL Executive, qtd. by The Athletic
Brenen Thompson could quickly become one of the Chargers' best selections in the 2026 NFL Draft
As the anonymous executive mentioned, there are certainly concerns about Thompson's size at the next level. He measured in at just 5'9" and 164 lbs at the NFL Scouting Combine. But everything outside of that is undeniably appealing.
He amassed an SEC-leading 1,054 receiving yards on 57 receptions in his final season at Mississippi State. His 4.26-second 40-yard-dash time was the best at the 2026 Combine and the fastest since Xavier Worthy's record-breaking mark in 2024.
Thompson is the type of weapon that can keep a defense honest and keep an opposing secondary on their toes with his speed.
But speed on its own is not a complete threat, and the anonymous NFL executive makes a strong case for why Thompson has the polished skill-set to succeed at the next level. He's not limited to just downfield routes, and although his size can limit his effectiveness in the middle of the field, he has the elusiveness to find his pockets there out of the slot.
His targets might be limited in his first season with the Chargers. But for a fourth-round selection, it's clear Los Angeles couldn't have found a much more potent offensive weapon.
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