The Los Angeles Chargers can view the 2024 season through two lenses. First, the team made the playoffs for just the second time with Justin Herbert as their quarterback, making the first season under Jim Harbaugh a massive success.
However, the other side of the coin isn’t as complimentary. They were crushed by the underwhelming Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, and Herbert turned in another brutal playoff performance. For one analyst, though, the bigger issue is the lack of weapons around Herbert — and he sees Los Angeles addressing that in the 2026 NFL Draft.
PFSN Mock Draft Has Los Angeles Chargers Adding Another WR to Boost Justin Herbert’s Production
Last year was Herbert’s worst from a production standpoint. Outside of an injury-riddled 2023 campaign, he hit career lows in passing yards (3,870), touchdowns (23), and completion percentage (65.9).
He finished 14th on PFSN’s QB+ metric, while the Chargers offense as a whole sputtered to a 17th-ranked finish on the corresponding Offense+ metric. Rather than a dip in his talent, though, most view the decline as a result of the Harbaugh system.
With a run game featured more prominently, Herbert threw the ball less frequently and more conservatively than in previous seasons. But the latest mock draft from PFSN suggests the offense could open up with more weapons around the quarterback.
Outside of rookie Ladd McConkey’s breakout year — he posted 1,149 yards — no other Chargers pass catcher crossed the 750-yard mark. The team addressed the issue by bringing back Mike Williams and drafting rookie Tre Harris.
NFL Draft analyst Brentley Weissman sees L.A. as a playoff contender again in 2025 and picking 22nd overall. His pick? Another wide receiver: Denzel Boston out of Washington.
“Boston is the next in line for great Washington receivers and will look to be the next Husky pass catcher to hear his name called in the first round.” In a bigger role in 2024, Boston recorded 834 yards and nine touchdowns.
Washington WR Denzel Boston Last Season:
🟣 98 Targets 🟣 3 Drops@UW_Football pic.twitter.com/GahRSMmmi8 — PFF College (@PFF_College) May 24, 2025
“He is a well-rounded player who flashes good route running, ball skills, and run-after-catch ability,” Weissman wrote. For a team that lacks A+ talent at wide receiver, Boston could be the third straight hit at the position.
If the Chargers want to get the most out of Herbert, surrounding him with a high-end group of pass catchers seems like an obvious move. With his arm talent, a rebuilt wide receiver corps, and Harbaugh’s leadership, Los Angeles might be building toward a legitimate Super Bowl run.