Los Angeles Chargers have breakout candidate at most worrisome position

Travis Wakeman

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Los Angeles Chargers have breakout candidate at most worrisome position image

Since drafting Justin Herbert as the team's franchise quarterback, the Los Angeles Chargers have been a team that spreads it out on offense and throws the ball around. They had Austin Ekeler to shoulder the rushing load, but he was more of a receiver as well. 

With Jim Harbaugh now in charge, things are going to look much different when the Chargers have the ball. The offense will be built on a stout offense line leading the charge for a punishing rushing attack. 

These changes have left many analysts to wonder how good the passing game will be, especially with Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Gerald Everett all playing for different teams now. That is 229 receptions from last season that need to be replaced. 

But there is one player who will be entering his fourth year with the team who could be ready to make a meteoric rise. 

Joshua Palmer chosen as Chargers breakout candidate

Looking at all 32 NFL teams, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report chose a player who could break out for each, and Joshua Palmer was that player for the Chargers. And with good reason, as the airways are clear for Palmer to take off. 

Someone is going to have to step up in the absence of all of the production the Chargers moved on from this offseason. Veteran D.J. Chark and rookie Ladd McConkey are there to help shoulder the load, but there is no reason to believe that Palmer won't be the team's No. 1 wide receiver when the season opens. 

 

That will be unfamiliar territory for him as he has been the team's WR3, at best, since he arrived via a third-round draft pick in 2021. 

With the recent news that Quentin Johnston will likely be the odd man out in 11 personnel sets, at least to begin the season, Palmer should see even more of an opportunity as the face most familiar to quarterback Justin Herbert. 

Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.