San Diego Chargers: 5 Options To Replace Keenan Allen
By Erik Lambert
There is no way the San Diego Chargers will be able to replace Keenan Allen. Still, with him facing a lost season, they have to find help at wide receiver.
No doubt the air went out of many Bolt fans when they saw the star target go down without contact. Initial belief is a torn ACL, which means he’s done for the season. That is a body blow that would stagger any team, but especially the Chargers who already lost Stevie Johnson as well. Philip Rivers is fast running out of viable targets. Even with an improving ground attack their hopes for making headway in the AFC West are already fading.
Something must be done to at least bolster the depth at that position. Here are some options for them to consider from both the free agent and trade markets.
FREE AGENTS
Roddy White
It’s the biggest name drop on the list for sure. At one point in time Roddy White was one of the best receivers in the NFL. Those days are over. He’s 34-years old and has been a free agent since the Atlanta Falcons released him months ago. It’s hard to know how much he has left in the tank, if anything. Still, he’s a savvy veteran who can at least provide some stability. With a little luck that San Diego sun might extra a little extra juice from those legs.
Rueben Randle
It’s puzzling why this man doesn’t have a job. Nobody is saying Rueben Randle is a world beater but he at least proved he could be reasonably productive as a #2 or #3 target. He had 797 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015 and finished just shy of 1,000 yards in 2014. At 25-years old he’s just getting into his physical prime and presents a good sized target at 6’2″. It would be hard to convince anybody that Rivers wouldn’t be able to do something with that.
Brian Hartline
Sort of a Little Engine That Could type. Brian Hartline never looked like a good NFL receiver at first glance but get him on the field and he just seemed to make plays. A true possession option who was very good at making the tough catches for important gains. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 and is still just 29-years old. A one-year experiment in Cleveland didn’t go as planned but the odds say he could help the team.
Next: Trades