Chargers GM gets honest on state of WR room after passing on Malik Nabers in NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers are undergoing a new chapter with a revamped front office and with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, there were a lot of mock drafts that had them selecting a wide receiver in the first round. However, when they passed on Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze for Joe Alt, some fans weren’t too thrilled.

But, the Chargers did end up selecting three wide receivers during the seven-round draft. General manager Joe Horitz spoke about the state of the wide receiver room and whether or not they would add more pieces, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.

“I think that the group that exists is going to go out and compete and challenge each other and try to win for the Chargers. If we feel like we can add a player to any group on this team that helps us do those things, we’re going to add them — it doesn’t matter the position.”

It has been a busy offseason for the new Chargers regime. They traded Keenen Allen and Mike Williams, saw Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett leave, and have added JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards at the running back position. So, more changes could be coming over the next few weeks for the Chargers.

Examining the Chargers WR room

The Chargers WR position group includes 2023 first-round choice Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, veteran Simi Fehoko, and 2023 draft pick and return specialist Derius Davis. After the draft, they now can add Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson, and USC’s Brenden Rice in a trio of big moves. Rice is the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice and played at Colorado before transferring to USC and catching passes from Caleb Williams.

Rice and Johnson were 7th-round picks, but assistant Chargers GM Chad Alexander had plenty of good things to say about the Rice and Johnson selections, especially so late in the draft )h/t Kris Rhim).

“First of all, they both have NFL bodies, they look like NFL receivers. Brenden has a lot of explosive plays down the field, long touchdown production … Then, Cornelius, same thing. Really productive, tough-minded individual. He might be the best blocking receiver in the draft.”

Rice dropping that far was a bit of a surprise, but he landed in an ideal spot in LA. McConkey was one of the first picks in the second round and the Chargers traded up to grab the former Georgia star.

So, despite passing on Nabers and Odunze, the Chargers get the best tackle in the draft class and land three talented wide receivers. McConkey is an early pick to earn a starting job for the Chargers, and Rice and Johnson should be projected to make the 53-man roster or, at the very least, the practice squad.