The San Diego Chargers have locked down Philip Rivers for the future while bringing in a new offensive coordinator in Ken Whisenhunt. The team has their franchise running back in Melvin Gordon, but major questions arise about their receiving group. Contractually, Rivers is set to lose his top two targets on the field leaving major holes on the field that must be filled in either the NFL Draft or free agency.
The Chargers own the No.3 pick in the NFL Draft. They could go a number of directions with that pick, but according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, if San Diego is going to be contenders in 2016, they must revamp their receiving corps and add talent to the offense in order to help Rivers succeed. Chances are both Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd are gone in free agency leaving big holes that will require upgraded talent.
According to NBC San Diego, Gates is not likely to get a contract offer from San Diego considering his injury history and and age. The same can be said for Floyd who is also a free agency. While Rivers would love to have his long-time teammates back on the field, the two veterans might have played their last games in a Chargers' uniform. Dontrelle Inman is also expected to be a free agent leaving the team with Keenan Allen who finished the year on injured reserve with a kidney problem.
In the draft, the Chargers are expected to target Laremy Tunsil out of Ole Miss in the first round considering their offensive line was one of the worst in the league in 2015. That means the free agency market could be where the Chargers find receiver talent. Jermaine Kearse, Marvin Jones, Travis Benjamin and Rishard Matthews are all players that could capitalize playing for Rivers. It is unlikely the team gets their hands on Alshon Jeffery. They could try and get DeSean Jackson who may or may not be on the outs with the Washington Redskins. Without a real No.1 guy hitting the market, the better No.2's will be the targets for the team.
The Chargers could eye the draft for help. With the No.3 they could end up grabbing Laquon Treadwell who is the best receiver in the NFL Draft this season. He will be gone in the first round so if the Chargers do not grab him then, he will gone. There are good options in the second round. Josh Doctson out of TCU, Sterling Shepard out of Oklahoma and Will Fuller from Notre Dame will be around in the second round. They could be good options to compete for a spot in the rotation in 2016.
