How Chargers Releasing Mike Williams and Trading Keenan Allen Affects Their Draft Plans

What it means.

The Los Angeles Chargers released veteran wide receiver and former first-round pick Mike Williams on Wednesday. They then traded 31-year-old WR Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears on Thursday. Williams and Allen had both spent their entire careers with the Chargers until this point. However, Williams tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2023 season, and the Chargers decided to part ways with the 29-year-old to clear up cap space. After Allen didn't want to take a pay cut, the Chargers traded him.

Now, the Chargers' top receiver is unproven 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Does this mean that the Chargers have a wide receiver need? Could they be more likely to take a wide receiver with the fifth overall pick?

The Chargers have already been linked to top receiving prospects in LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze before releasing Williams. With one less key receiver on their team, this could better their odds. When Williams and Allen were still on the team, it could have been harder to justify drafting a receiver so high, especially when they took one in the first round last year. 

Now, wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for the team. After all, giving quarterback Justin Herbert weapons is key for the Chargers.

Not only this, but this year's wide receiver class is talented, especially the top-end prospects. While it's hard to imagine Marvin Harrison Jr. falling to No. 5, there are still two great options in Nabers and Odunze.

Both Nabers and Odunze were the two runner-ups for the Fred Biletnikoff Award in their final collegiate season, an award given to the top receiver in college football that year.

In 2023, Nabers rolled to 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 17.6 yards per catch. He also was a unanimous All-American. Odunze also impressed, racking up 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 17.8 yards per catch while becoming a consensus All-American.

Though the Chargers are also considered in the mix to nab another top weapon in Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, they might not need to draft one after grabbing two tight ends in free agency. The Bolts added Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst this offseason. 

It's still very possible the Chargers take one of the top offensive linemen, like Joe Alt, but the release of Williams would make it less surprising if they do select a receiver like Nabers or Odunze to support Herbert.