Around the NFL

April 18, 2023

Chargers wideouts

Guyton's return could help passing game

The Chargers re-signed wide receiver Jalen Guyton yesterday, and while it's a lower-profile move, it might turn out to be a valuable one. Guyton got hurt early on a year ago, and the offense missed him.

In Guyton's breakout season of 2020 (Justin Herbert's rookie season), Guyton stepped up as a quality No. 3. He turned 55 targets into 28 catches for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging over 18 yards per reception. That's one of the top averages of any wide receiver over the past three seasons (minimum 50 targets).

A year later, he averaged a healthy 14.5 yards per reception, and maybe 2022 would have been another strong season in that regard. One of his 2 catches at the start of the year went for 54 yards. But he tore his ACL, and the offense didn't really have anyone to threaten defenses deep with him gone. Mike Williams was best (14.2 yards per reception), but even that was below what he'd done the previous two seasons with Guyton also on the field (he was up over 15 yards per catch in those years). Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter all averaged 10-12 yards per catch, and the passing game wasn't as potent as the previous year. Herbert threw 12 fewer touchdowns (38-26) and averaged 16 fewer passing yards per game (295-279).

There were probably other offensive issues than just Guyton's absence, but I think he gave it an element they couldn't replace.

Table below shows all wide receivers to average at least 15 yards per catch the last three seasons (minimum 50 targets).

WRS AVERAGING OVER 15 YARDS PER CATCH, 2020-2022
Year	Player	Tgt	No	Rec	Avg	TD
2020	Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.	63	33	690	20.9	6
2020	Nelson Agholor, L.V.	82	48	896	18.7	8
2021	Deebo Samuel, S.F.	121	77	1405	18.3	6
2020	Jalen Guyton, LAC	55	28	511	18.3	3
2020	DJ Moore, Car.	118	66	1193	18.1	4
2022	Jaylen Waddle, Mia.	117	75	1356	18.1	8
2021	JaMarr Chase, Cin.	128	81	1455	18.0	13
2021	Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cle.	58	34	597	17.6	3
2022	Gabe Davis, Buff.	93	48	836	17.4	7
2020	Gabe Davis, Buff.	62	35	599	17.1	7
2022	A.J. Brown, Phil.	145	88	1496	17.0	11
2020	Breshad Perriman, NYJ	60	30	505	16.8	3
2021	Bryan Edwards, L.V.	59	34	571	16.8	3
2022	Corey Davis, NYJ	64	32	536	16.8	2
2022	DJ Chark, Det.	52	30	502	16.7	3
2020	Will Fuller, Hou.	75	53	879	16.6	8
2021	Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.	55	26	430	16.5	3
2020	Jerry Jeudy, Den.	113	52	856	16.5	3
2022	Marquez Valdes-Scantling, K.C.	81	42	687	16.4	2
2020	Rashard Higgins, Cle.	52	37	599	16.2	4
2021	Tyler Lockett, Sea.	107	73	1175	16.1	8
2021	Van Jefferson, LAR	89	50	802	16.0	6
2021	Keelan Cole, NYJ	51	28	449	16.0	1
2020	Justin Jefferson, Min.	125	88	1400	15.9	7
2022	Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten.	50	25	397	15.9	3
2021	Deonte Harris, N.O.	59	36	570	15.8	3
2020	Mike Williams, LAC	85	48	756	15.8	5
2022	Darius Slayton, NYG	71	46	724	15.7	2
2020	DK Metcalf, Sea.	129	83	1303	15.7	10
2021	A.J. Green, Ariz.	92	54	848	15.7	3
2021	Gabe Davis, Buff.	63	35	549	15.7	6
2022	Terry McLaurin, Was.	120	77	1191	15.5	5
2022	George Pickens, Pitt.	84	52	801	15.4	4
2020	A.J. Brown, Ten.	106	70	1075	15.4	11
2020	Calvin Ridley, Atl.	143	90	1374	15.3	9
2020	Scott Miller, T.B.	53	33	501	15.2	3
2021	Marquez Callaway, N.O.	84	46	698	15.2	6
2022	Davante Adams, L.V.	180	100	1516	15.2	14
2020	Corey Davis, Ten.	92	65	984	15.1	5
2020	Julio Jones, Atl.	68	51	771	15.1	3
2021	Mike Williams, LAC	129	76	1146	15.1	9
2021	Quez Watkins, Phil.	62	43	647	15.1	1
2020	Darius Slayton, NYG	96	50	751	15.0	3
2021	Justin Jefferson, Min.	167	108	1616	15.0	10

I saw a report last week that the Chargers might be looking to add a wideout early in the NFL Draft. That makes sense, with Allen turning 31 next week. He and Williams (29 this season) have both battled injuries at various points. Maybe they'll be interested in one of the intriguing youngsters: Jordan Addison, Jalin Hyatt.

But the team has other needs, so perhaps Guyton will wind up serving as that big-play wideout. No better than the No. 4, if everyone else is healthy; hard to actually get behind drafting Guyton in anywhere but a best-ball format, and in a final round at that. But his presence might help the rest of the offense.

--Andy Richardson

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