Now that the Los Angeles Chargers have parted ways with former wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, it's time to take a look back at how those draft picks look in hindsight.
Here's a retrospective look.
Keenan Allen: A
In hindsight, the Chargers nailed their pick of Allen. The Chargers didn't take Allen until the third round in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he exceeded the expectations of a third-round pick.
Allen's career got off to a slow start as injuries derailed him for several seasons. After eclipsing 1,000 yards in his rookie season, Allen dealt with a collarbone injury late in his sophomore season. His injury issues would only worsen as he played just eight games in 2015 due to a lacerated kidney. The next year, he tore his ACL in the first game of the year.
However, Allen managed to come back stronger than ever in 2017. He recorded a career-high 1,393 receiving yards and made his first of six Pro Bowls while winning Comeback Player of the Year.
Since coming back in 2017, Allen has gone for over 1,000 yards in five of his last seven NFL seasons, emerging into the Chargers' most consistent target and threat. Though the Chargers opted not to keep him, they got more than his value's worth over the past decade.
The pickup of Allen was not just a steal because he was a Day 2 pick, but because of how poor the 2013 Draft class was. The 2013 draft was full of busts, and the only receiver who had a better career than Allen was De'Andre Hopkins, who was taken in the first round. The Chargers didn't just get a great player, but one of the best from a draft class that left a lot to be desired.
Mike Williams: B-
The Chargers took Mike Williams No. 7 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Allen was the second of 32 wide receivers selected in the draft, and ultimately, one of the best ones in the class. The other two wide receivers taken in the first round proved to be busts, with the Tennessee Titans drafting Corey Davis at No. 5 overall and the Cincinnati Bengals taking John Ross at No. 9 overall. Neither panned out.
Williams was not necessarily the best pick, but he was solid for the Chargers during his seven-year tenure with the Chargers. Williams' career got off to a slow start in his rookie season, but he began making a larger impact in his second season when he recorded 10 touchdowns. Overall, he recorded two 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the team.
After tearing his ACL in his final season with the team, it makes sense that the Chargers opted to release the 29-year-old receiver.
Overall, Williams earns a B- because he did not produce for the team as a No. 7 overall pick is expected to. He's been good, but not great. However, Williams doesn't get a lower grade because the Chargers took the best receiver of the first-round picks. The primary receivers who have had better careers from his draft class are Cooper Kupp and Chris Godwin, who were both mid-round picks.
In addition, there weren't a ton of amazing players that the Chargers missed out on in the first round. The best player from the draft is Patrick Mahomes, but the Chargers weren't looking for a quarterback since they still had Patrick Mahomes. They missed out on some great defenders like edge rusher T.J. Watt, running back Christian McCaffrey, or cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marshon Lattimore, but they still brought in a good contributor in Williams.
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