For years, the Los Angeles Chargers have been stuck in a frustrating cycle: a star quarterback with no star receivers. Despite persistent trade rumors and offseason speculation, the team has failed to land a marquee wideout. D.K. Metcalf? Gone to Pittsburgh. George Pickens? Dealt to Dallas. And yet, somehow, the Chargers still haven’t made a move to fill their most obvious hole.
Enter Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who may have offered the perfect solution—if only through the power of revisionist fantasy. In his recent 2024 NFL re-draft, Knox has the Chargers selecting LSU standout Brian Thomas Jr., the explosive receiver who dazzled as a rookie last season.
Originally taken 23rd overall by the Jaguars, Thomas torched opposing defenses for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors and finishing No. 4 in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting—all while catching passes from Mac Jones for nearly half the year.
Re-Draft Gives Los Angeles Chargers a Game-Changing Weapon They Desperately Needed
It’s no surprise that football analyst Maurice Moton used the re-draft to call out the common criticism of Justin Herbert, pointing to Thomas as a true difference-maker:
“Are you tired of hearing about how overrated Justin Herbert has been over the last five years? Well, let’s put all that nonsense to bed, giving him Brian Thomas Jr., an ascending receiver who beats defenders on short-to-intermediate routes and big plays downfield. With Thomas, Herbert would immediately add another 5,000-plus-yard passing season to his resume.”
It’s a dream scenario. Herbert—already a top-tier arm talent—has never had a weapon like this. While Joe Burrow thrived with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Herbert has had to make do with less. Even when Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were healthy, neither brought the same vertical explosiveness or versatility that Thomas offers.
Chargers fans can only imagine what might have been. Thomas excelled in Jacksonville under tough conditions, including a midseason quarterback change and a rotating offensive system. Despite that, his talent rose above the noise. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence praised the second-year receiver for his intelligence, adaptability, and elite work ethic:
“The talent has always been there,” Lawrence said. “Now he has a full year under his belt. He’s one of the top receivers in the league… You can move him anywhere, do anything, and he’s going to find a way to get the ball because he is just that good.”
Imagine pairing that kind of weapon with a quarterback who consistently ranks among the NFL’s most prolific passers.
Instead, the Chargers enter the 2025 offseason still searching. They franchised Herbert, but unless they finally deliver him a top-tier receiving threat, they risk wasting the prime of one of the league’s most gifted passers.
Brian Thomas Jr. might not be walking through the doors at SoFi Stadium—but Kristopher Knox’s re-draft makes one thing crystal clear: he should’ve been.
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