When evaluating the roster of the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers, the consensus is that it is a good team with a good head coach making a beeline to the NFL playoffs.
But the consensus is also that if the team has a weakness, it is within the wide receiver position. Despite drafting Ladd McConkey in the second round, having Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston as holdovers, and signing veteran D.J. Chark, the Chargers still target a pass-catcher in round one of Matt Miller's most recent mock.
Many fans felt that was the move this year and they were hyped to see Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze sitting there for the taking when the Chargers came on the clock. Instead, the team opted for the Jim Harbaugh special by selecting offensive tackle Joe Alt.
Chargers select Evan Stewart in ESPN mock draft
Matt Miller has the Chargers taking Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Evan Stewart recently transferred to Oregon from Texas A&M. He is a dynamic talent but he is also a shade under six feet tall and weighs just 175 pounds, so there will be questions about his size. If he puts together a solid year at Oregon, he can solidify himself as a first-round pick.
Is Evan Stewart WR1 in the 2025 NFL Draft? pic.twitter.com/31JBR5Rrvm
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 20, 2024
But if the Chargers get a bounce-back year from Johnston, McConkey has the kind of rookie year that some are expecting and someone like Chark steps up and shows himself to be a reliable option for Justin Herbert, the team may not even be looking at a wide receiver.
It's also interesting to note that Miller has the Chargers picking at No. 18, which means they would be right in the mix of the playoffs. But if they get there, it will likely mean that the wide receivers played pretty well and that it is not as pressing a need as some of these analysts seem to think it is.
