Could Chargers add former Chief to strengthen wide receiver corps?

There's no arguing that one of the Chargers' biggest needs is at wide receiver after trading Keenan Allen to the Bears and releasing Mike Williams, who has since signed with the Jets, this offseason.

Could Los Angeles begin to rebuild its wide receiver corps with a former rival from the AFC West Kansas City Chiefs?

It seems very possible as the Chargers have expressed interest in free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Valdes-Scantling spent the past two seasons with the Chiefs, whom he won back-to-back Super Bowls with. However, he was released by Kansas City in February as a salary cap casualty.

The 29-year-old was part of the group that led the league in dropped passes (44) last season, but he has still proven to be a productive player when on the field. Over the past two years, he's had 63 catches for 1,002 yards and three touchdowns.

Those numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, but neither do any of the wide receivers currently on Los Angeles' roster.

Joshua Palmer had the best stat line in 2023 out of those who remain with 38 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns. And while the team is hoping its 2023 first-round pick, Quentin Johnston, can take another step in 2024, his 38 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns were quite underwhelming too.

That's why adding another playmaker like Valdes-Scantling for a low price would be smart. It would give the Chargers further depth at a thin position and wouldn't prevent them from adding to the room in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is rich with wide receiver talent.

Los Angeles currently owns the No. 5 overall pick and depending on how the board falls, the team may have the first choice at a non-QB. If that's the case, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be the favorite after posting 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns from 2022-23.

Nonetheless, Valdes-Scantling is one of the few viable options remaining on the open market. So, if the Chargers are interested in him, they better hurry up before it's too late.