Is it possible that the Los Angeles Chargers have been sitting on the answer to their problems at wide receiver for the last three seasons? According to NFL.com Deputy Editor, Gennaro Filice, Josh Palmer very well could be the Chargers’ next great outside receiver, naming him the Chargers’ most underappreciated player.
The Case For Josh Palmer
“After taking over a cap-strapped roster this January, Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz decided to create financial flexibility by gutting the receiver room, Filice writes, “In the absence of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, who will emerge as Justin Herbert’s downfield target?”
“Last year’s first-round pick, Quentin Johnston, left a lot to be desired in Year 1. This year’s second-round pick, Ladd McConkey, looks like he’ll do most of his work from the slot. So, when the Bolts’ cannon-arm quarterback wants to cut it loose, who’ll test the defense on the perimeter? It seems like a lot of people are forgetting about Palmer, possibly due to his injury-riddled 2023 campaign. The fourth-year pro already has a nice rapport with Herbert — as we saw in a handful of 100-yard outings over the past two seasons — and he possesses the most well-rounded, polished game in this receiving corps.”
Palmer missed a total of seven games last season, six due to a knee injury that landed him on the IR. But that provides an example of one of the chemistry he has with Herbert that Filice describes. Palmer was targeted 60 times in the 10 games that he played in, compared to the 65 that Johnston had in his 17 games.
To see Palmer’s game at its best, just go back to 2022. He was Herbert’s favorite wide receiver to target (Williams played in 13 games and Allen in 10). He finished the year with the team’s second-most receiving yards and tied for the most receiving first downs on the team.
Palmer’s Contract Year With the Los Angeles Chargers
Palmer seamlessly moved out of the long shadows cast when Allen and/or Williams were injured. And now with both solidly off the roster, Palmer has a chance to make his case for a starting role. This syncs up nicely with the end of his rookie contract, set to expire after this season. Palmer enters this offseason with the edge of having developed the aforementioned rapport with Herbert, which the importance of cannot be overestimated, especially with a lack of experience among the rest of the receivers.
