Chargers Sign Parrish: A Breakdown Of The Updated Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Roscoe Parrish

The San Diego Chargers have announced the signing of former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish on a one-year contract. Parrish is the third free agent wide receiver that the team has signed this offseason after having already added Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal to the offense.

He is a 29-year-old veteran who has been with the Bills ever since he entered the league back in 2005. Although he wasn’t a huge contributor to the Bills on offense, he was a solid contributor on special teams where he was used as both a kick and punt returner.

The Chargers wide receiver group now appears to be set with six receivers currently on the roster and all are expected to have a role on the team next season. With all the wide receivers in place and Philip Rivers at quarterback, the Chargers passing game is looking good for the upcoming season.

The only thing that’s left to decide now is what the wide receiver depth chart will look.

Here’s my prediction.

Number 1/2 Starting Receivers

Malcom Floyd

Overview: Floyd should begin the season as the number 1 receiver due to his familiarity with Philip Rivers. I’m expecting him to post a career high in catches but I think that once Meachem gets to grips with the offense after a few games, Floyd should drop down one spot on the depth chart to number 2 receiver.

Projected Stats: 53 Catches, 722 Yards, 5 Touchdowns.

Robert Meachem

Overview: Meachem is coming to the Chargers with high expectations. Asked in his welcoming press conference what he hopes to achieve with the Chargers offense he responded, “I just want to make the big play.” 

A speedy wide receiver who was a reliable deep threat with the New Orleans Saints, I think he’ll be making plenty of big plays with the Chargers. Expect to see Meachem post career-highs in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns this season due to an increased role as a number 1/2 receiver.

Projected Stats: 58 Catches, 836 Yards, 10 Touchdowns.

Number 3/4 Slot Receivers

Vincent Brown

Overview: I have been a fan of Brown ever since the Chargers selected him in Round 3 of the 2011 Draft. He isn’t the fastest wide receiver in the NFL nor is he the biggest but he is a solid route-runner who has a habit of making great catches.

After a promising Rookie season in which he had 329 receiving yards, I’m expecting him to continue that form into this season. Brown should start the season as the number 3 receiver who can play out on the outside when Meachem is in the slot.

Projected Stats: 46 Catches, 452 Yards, 4 Touchdowns.

Eddie Royal

Overview: Royal is coming off his worst season in the NFL in which he had a career-low 19 catches. Although I do expect that number to increase now that he has Philip Rivers as opposed to Tim Tebow throwing him the ball, I still don’t expect Royal to return to the form he showed during his Rookie season in which he had 91 catches.

Projected Stats: 25 Catches, 260 Yards, 1 Touchdown.

Number 5/6 Kick/Punt Returners

Richard Goodman

Overview: After serving as the Chargers primary kick returner last season, Goodman was tendered and will be back with the team for this season. He faces competition for return duties from newly signed Roscoe Parrish but should continue to act as the team’s primary kick returner with Parrish expected to return punts. 

Projected Stats: 2 Catches, 50 Yards, 0 Touchdowns. 1 (Kick Return Touchdown)

Roscoe Parrish

Overview: Parrish could turn out to be a nice addition for the Chargers. I’m expecting him to have a small role on offense as a number 5 receiver, but it’s special teams where he could really add to the team.

Parrish has averaged an impressive 12 yards per punt return during his career which is second in the NFL only to Devin Hester. Expect to see him make plenty of big plays on punt returns next season.

Projected Stats: 16 Catches, 180 Yards, 2 Touchdowns. (1 Punt Return Touchdown)

So those are my breakdown of the Chargers wide receiver depth chart.

Follow me on twitter for further updates. https://twitter.com/PodgeOH92

Thanks for reading.

San Diego Chargers: Free Agency Recap

Robert Meachem

It’s certainly been a busy week of business in the NFL.

Peyton Manning will make his decision on which team to play for by Tuesday. According to reports, he is expected to sign with either the Tennessee Titans or the Denver Broncos. The San Francisco 49ers are reported to have an outside chance of signing the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Calvin Johnson (Megatron) signed a seven-year $132 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions, thus becoming the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. This exceeds the eight-year $120 million contract extension that Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Arizona Cardinals prior to the start of last season.

One final headline from the first week of free agency, the Chargers re-signed left tackle Jared Gaither to a four year contract and former Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson signed a five-year $55.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In case anyone forgot, here is a quick recap of a busy free agency period for the San Diego Chargers.

Players In

Robert Meachem- Wide Receiver

Overview: With Vincent Jackson signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chargers quickly found a replacement in free agency. Meachem had at least 40 catches in each of the last three seasons as the number2/3 receiver in the New Orleans Saints high powered offense. He will be expected to start alongside Malcom Floyd in the Chargers offense.

Grade: B- He should fit in well in the Chargers offense and will be a reliable deep threat for Rivers. I’m expecting 50+ catches, 800+ yards and 10 touchdowns for Meachem next season.

Jarret Johnson- Outside Linebacker

Overview: Johnson is a veteran outside linebacker who has played with the Baltimore Ravens for his entire NFL career. He is stout against the run and should start opposite Shaun Phillips. He signed a four- year deal and will be 31 years old when the season starts.

Grade: C- A solid move to bring in another veteran linebacker in Johnson but don’t expect him to see him rushing the passer much on third down.

Le’Ron McClain- Fullback

Overview: McClain is one of the NFL’s best fullbacks and will serve as Ryan Mathews lead blocker next season. A former Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens, he spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. McClain should start instead of Jacob Hester and can also be used as a running back on short yardage situations.

Grade: A- A great move to bring in one of the elite fullbacks in the NFL. McClain is a great replacement for Tolbert who is expected to leave in free agency.

Eddie Royal- Wide Receiver

Overview: Royal has been an highly inconsistent in his four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He had just 19 catches last season and hasn’t yet returned to the form he showed in his Rookie season in which he had 980 receiving yards. He will start the season as the Chargers number 4 receiver on the depth chart and can also be used in the return game.

Grade: D- I just can’t see Royal fitting in well with the Chargers offense and would have preferred to see the team draft a number 4 receiver instead.

Charlie Whitehurst- Quarterback

Overview: I guess the team felt it was time to bring back former third string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Whitehurst left the Chargers in 2010 after he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, he had a disappointing spell in Seattle and now returns to more familiar surroundings in San Diego.

Grade: D- A surprising move to bring Whitehurst back into the fold. He will resume his Chargers career as the backup quarterback after the unexpected release of long standing backup Billy Volek.

Atari Bigby- Safety

Overview: After Steve Gregory signed with the New England Patriots, the Chargers decided to bring in Bigby to replace him in the secondary. Bigby played 15 games last season with the Seattle Seahawks serving mostly as a backup safety. The 30-year-old veteran should compete with for a starting spot alongside Eric Weddle.

Grade: D- When healthy, Bigby could be a solid contributor to the secondary but it remains to be seen how many games he will play in. He hasn’t completed a full season since 2007 and is coming towards the end of his career.

Players Out

Vincent Jackson- Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Overview: A mutual split works out best for both the Chargers and Jackson. The Chargers saved salary cap space to bring in other free agents and Jackson got the big contract he was looking for from the Bucs. We haven’t seen the last of V.J. however as the Chargers will be playing the Buccaneers in the regular season.

Grade: A- Jackson will play with promising quarterback Josh Freeman who seemed to struggle at times last season.

Steve Gregory- Signed with New England Patriots

Overview: Gregory was a solid player during his time with the Chargers and provided great versatility to the secondary. He should fit in well in New England and give them a free safety to pair with Patrick Chung. I would have preferred to have seen Gregory re-signed, especially since Atari Bigby was signed as his replacement.

Grade: D- Gregory will play alongside Patrick Chung in the Patriots secondary.

Re-Signed

Jared Gaither- Left Tackle

Contract: Four-year deal

Nick Hardwick- Center

Contract: Three-year deal

Kory Sperry- Tight End

Contract: One-year deal

Randy McMichael- Tight End

Contract: Two-Year deal

Released

Marcus McNeill- Left Tackle

Possible Teams: Detroit Lions or Buffalo Bills

Luis Castillo- Defensive End

Possible Teams: Kansas City Chiefs or San Francisco 49ers

Bryan Walters- Wide Receiver

Possible Teams: Denver Broncos or Jacksonville Jaguars

Dante Hughes- Cornerback

Possible Teams: Chicago Bears or Dallas Cowboys

Everette Brown- Outside Linebacker

Possible Teams: Baltimore Ravens or New England Patriots

Nate Triplett- Middle Linebacker

Possible Teams: Minnesota Vikings or Oakland Raiders

Billy Volek- Quarterback

Possible Teams: New York Jets or Indianapolis Colts

Tendered

Brandon Dombrowski- Offensive Tackle

Overview: Dombrowski will continue his role as a backup offensive lineman providing depth at tackle.

Richard Goodman- Wide Receiver

Overview: Goodman will continue as the kick returner with newly signed Eddie Royal expected to be the punt returner.

Mike Windt- Long Snapper

Overview: Windt will continue to serve as the Chargers long snapper.

Free Agent Targets

Mario Williams- Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

Overview: Signed with Buffalo Bills. (Six-year deal worth $100 million)

Marques Colston- Wide Receiver

Overview: Re-signed with New Orleans Saints. (Five-year deal worth $40 million)

Eric Wright- Cornerback

Overview: Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Five-year deal worth $37.5 million)

Samson Satele- Center

Overview: Still available but won’t be pursued due to the re-signing of Nick Hardwick.

Tom Zbikowski- Safety

Overview: Signed with Indianapolis Colts. (Three-Year deal with terms of contract undisclosed)

Tashard Choice- Running Back

Overview: Still available but is unlikely to be pursued due to the signing of Le’Ron McClain.

Shaun Rogers- Defensive Tackle

Overview: Still available but may command to high a price for the Chargers.

Harry Douglas- Wide Receiver

Overview: Still available but won’t be pursued due to signings of Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal.

Matt Roth- Outside Linebacker

Overview: Still available but won’t be pursued due to the signing of Jarret Johnson.

Martellus Bennett- Tight End

Overview: Signed with New York Giants. (One-year deal worth $2.5 million)

So that’s my recap of the first week of free agency, check back next week as I reveal my Draft targets for the Chargers.

Follow me on twitter for further updates https://twitter.com/PodgeOH92

Thanks for reading.