The Los Angeles Chargers went one-and-done in the playoffs, and impending free agent wide receiver Chris Godwin could help the team avoid a similar fate next year. Justin Herbert did not play his best football in the Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, but he was far better than his final stat line suggested. Completing 14 of his 32 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, the quarterback was plagued with drops and overall poor play from the wide receiver position.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has reviewed the film and agrees that his quarterback is not at fault for the underwhelming offensive showing.
“Completely unfair,” Harbaugh said in regards to Herbert’s situation. “I wouldn’t spend two more seconds thinking about what happened in that game. It didn’t go good, and that’s on me, that’s my responsibility, that’s my accountability…we did [Herbert] a disservice and didn’t put him in the positions to be successful enough, but he played like a beast.”
If the Los Angeles Chargers want to put Justin Herbert in a position to succeed next year, they could target impending free agent wide receiver Chris Godwin. However, they won’t be the only team fighting for his services, as the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs could also try and sign him.
Jim Harbaugh’s Latest Comments Imply A Chris Godwin Signing Could Happen
The Los Angeles Chargers needed more out of their wide receivers in 2024. While second-round pick Ladd McConkey made an immediate contribution and looks like a future star, the rest of the depth chart desperately needs some help. Quentin Johnston was wildly inconsistent, DJ Chark couldn’t do anything, and the rest of the depth chart was comprised of washed-up veterans or unremarkable youngsters. Herbert is a great quarterback, but he can’t do everything all by himself.
Enter Chris Godwin. While the wide receiver ended the year on injured reserve, the former third-round pick was one of the game’s most reliable receivers when on the field. Through just seven games, the wide receiver recorded 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns while working out of the slot and out wide. Godwin and McConkey are versatile chess pieces who can line up anywhere, and combining these two should give Herbert one of the league’s more dangerous receiving duos. Armed with $73.1 million in cap space, Los Angeles has the financial ability to land him without impacting their ability to build a coherent roster.
Other Destinations
The New England Patriots have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and their head coach in Mike Vrabel. Unfortunately, that’s all they have, as this roster is the worst in football. While most of the offseason will likely focus on building an offensive line to keep Maye upright, they must also improve the wide receiver position. Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are adequate depth players, but they shouldn’t be starters. Chris Godwin is a legitimate 1,000-yard threat whose soft hands and pristine route running should be a welcome addition to this offense.
The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, may or may not need more wide receivers in the offseason. Marquise Brown and DeAndre Hopkins are impending free agents and second-round pick Rashee Rice could miss a sizable portion of the 2025 season with a suspension. First-round pick Xavier Worthy isn’t going anywhere, but if the Chiefs lose two of the other three, this team might be in trouble. While Worthy has the big-play potential, Godwin can be a consistent chain-mover for what should be an elite offense.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
