The San Diego Chargers need help at wide receiver as all signs point that Travis Benjamin will more than likely hit free agency. If so, he should be a prime target for the Chargers to acquire.
It’s no secret that the Chargers are in a rebuilding mode. They need some better offensive weapons as it all starts at wide receiver since quarterback Philip Rivers will be looking to have a bounce back year with the Chargers and return to his old ways of lighting up the scoreboard.
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As they ended last season at 4-12 in the bottom of the AFC West, this offseason the Chargers have some priorities to fill. Besides wide receiver, they have needs on their offensive line as well as with their overall pass rush.
In my most recent mock draft since their defensive pass rush is top priority, the Chargers with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft select defensive end DeForest Bucker. He’ll address this need and also be an anchor for years to come on the Chargers’ defensive line.
Since the Chargers will more than likely use the draft to fill their pass rush needs, they should be able to make a big move or two in free agency. According to the tweet below by Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, talks between Benjamin and the Cleveland Browns have stalled and he’s set to hit free agency as one of the top at his position.
Contract discussions between WR Travis Benjamin and the #Browns have broken down, per his agent @NewButler1. Benjamin will hit the market.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) February 23, 2016
To add someone like Benjamin into the mix would work wonders to bring some life to the Chargers’ offense. For the past few years, it’s been missing that real big threat capable of not only keeping those chains moving but giving defenses a reason to keep an extra defender on him due to how dangerous he can be.
Benjamin is coming off his best season yet of his bright career. Last year with the Browns, Benjamin totaled 966 receiving yards on 68 receptions for five touchdowns. Should the Chargers make a push and acquire him, his stats will more than likely skyrocket due to how much better Rivers is compared to the mediocrity Benjamin had to deal with last season at quarterback.
Considering that Malcolm Floyd officially retired and the Chargers are still trying to retain some of their own eligible free agents, there is no guarantee they will return. The Chargers might have some gaping holes to fill at wide receiver since there is no guarantee Keenan Allen, who is returning from a serious kidney injury last season, will be the same player he once was.
Benjamin could fill the position Floyd had on the Chargers as their premier deep passing threat and also prove his versatility on special teams. Benjamin would also be able to contribute on special teams as a kickoff/punt returner which would be a nice upgrade at the position.
On special teams, Benjamin totaled 857 yards and three touchdowns on punt returns while also totaling 468 yards on kickoff returns. What he would bring to the table on the Chargers would give them an immediate threat on offense while also bolstering their special teams receiving unit nicely.
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The Chargers have a little bit above $30M in their salary cap to play with entering free agency and the draft so they should be able to afford the big money/long-term contract Benjamin will be seeking. Plus the Chargers are one of the more attractive teams to better suit his talents with a much better quarterback situation and the kind of overall stability Benjamin would thrive in.