Los Angeles Chargers: Josh Palmer could play crucial role in offense

While the Los Angeles Chargers are looking for rookie Rashawn Slater to play a big role, fellow rookie Josh Palmer could also be a critical component.

With Justin Herbert at the helm of the Los Angeles Chargers offense, there is faith in the organization and among fans that they are in good hands. The rookie quarterback was phenomenal in his first season, even as he was thrust into that role unexpectedly. And it’s hard to think that his pass-catching weapons didn’t play a large role in his emergence.

Keenan Allen has been one of the NFL’s premier route-runners and wide receivers for the past few years. Though he’s struggled to stay healthy, Mike Williams has proved to be a valuable and talented piece when on the field. Before this season, tight end Hunter Henry was also as reliable as they come.

With Henry now on the Patriots, though, there are targets to be gobbled up. Some might argue that Jared Cook will get them after signing with the Chargers but we’ve heard that story in the offseason before. Meanwhile, behind Allen and Williams, players like Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson are far from reliable. That’s where rookie Josh Palmer could come into play.

A third-round pick in this year’s draft out of Tennessee, Palmer was a prospect many analysts were high on as a sleeper in the class. Throughout the offseason, there was a bit of buzz that he was impressing and he showed a bit of that in his preseason debut, catching six passes for 36 yards to lead the team. He also graded out as the 10th best rookie in the NFL for the week according to PFF.

Even though it’s one preseason game from a rookie, that could signify something major for the Chargers offense in 2021.

Josh Palmer will be a big-time target in the Los Angeles Chargers offense.

Again, the lack of depth in the Chargers receiving corps is actually quite staggering. Yes, Austin Ekeler is a weapons as a pass-catcher out of the backfield but it’s really Allen, Williams and then question marks or role players after that with the wideouts. There is definite room for a third wide receiver to emerge.

Josh Palmer is possibly the best candidate to take that job. While he’s not an elite speedster like Guyton or Johnson, he’s a much more well-rounded player at the position than either of his two new teammates. He possesses tremendous hands, has crafty feet to work his way open and already showed that he can be a possession receiver unafraid of contact underneath and over the middle in the first preseason game.

Moreover, Williams’ injury history can’t be overlooked. He’s missed time consistently throughout his young career and, if he went down again, that would make Palmer an even more critical component. He would immediately have to be in contention to be the B-option in the passing offense after Allen.

This isn’t to say that Josh Palmer is going to break Justin Jefferson’s rookie receiver records with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, for an offense that is in need of a supplementary player in the passing attack to help further Herbert’s development, the rookie third-rounder is already flashing the signs that he can fill that role with aplomb.