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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has had no shortage of team-inflicted obstacles in his path to prominence. He's seen offensive lines collapse and running games vanish into thin air. Few defenses have provided less support, and his receiving corps has routinely fallen short of expectations, especially when it's mattered most.
Los Angeles has been a land of Murphy's Law. In Year 2 of the Jim Harbaugh administration, the Chargers will hope a season's worth of turnover lends itself to success.
Rookie receivers could make an impact
Last season, rookie receiver Ladd McConkey exceeded his draft capital to post 1,149 yards and seven scores. He quickly earned Herbert's trust and emerged as more than a slot receiver, becoming the spiritual heir to Keenan Allen.
However, the rest of the unit left much to be desired. Quentin Johnston was more productive, generating nearly 300 more yards than in his rookie campaign. Even so, drops plagued him. The weakness toes the line of being a fatal flaw, and having been a pick from the prior regime, his job isn't necessarily safe. With receiver Joshua Palmer off to the greener pastures of Orchard Park, an influx of talent was inevitable.
The Chargers addressed the need in the NFL Draft, picking Mississippi's Tre' Harris in Round 2 and Auburn's KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the middle of Day 3.
MORE: Chargers' Brenden Rice shows that he shouldn't be completely dismissed just yet
Between Harris's late start to camp and Lambert-Smith's Round 5 draft capital, the rookies' projections are cloudy. Johnston has the incumbency's advantage on the boundary, but Lambert-Smith has begun making his push.
He saw playing time in the Hall of Fame Game, catching both of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. He made use of his sub-4.40-second speed and created real separation. At 6'0", 190, Lambert-Smith may be limited in his role, but he's making a good first impression and generating praise from Herbert and the media alike.
Harris, meanwhile, was held without a catch and targeted once in the preseason opener. That shouldn't knock him off the inside track to a starting job, especially given the early rapport he has seemed to create with Herbert.
The second-round receiver is bound to be an upgrade, but the unit's fate is more so in the hands of the later draft pick. If Lambert-Smith can earn a starting role -- or take meaningful playing time from Johnston -- the receiving corps should be optimized to each target's strengths, opening the door for a more conducive offense worthy of its star under center.
Los Angeles doesn't need to dominate on the perimeter. Merely bridging the gap from bad to average could make all the difference for the Chargers in 2025. Fans can monitor the receivers' progress on Aug. 10 against the New Orleans Saints.
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