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Last season the leading receiver for the San Diego Chargers was a running back, Danny Woodhead, with 80 receptions. Their star receiver, Keenan Allen, had 67 grabs. Adding a wide receiver was a major priority for the Chargers in free agency, and they landed one of the best on the market in Travis Benjamin.
Benjamin, 26, is coming off a breakout campaign with the Cleveland Browns in which he caught 68 balls for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He caught just 41 passes in his first three years but put it all together last year to lead the Browns in receiving.
The Chargers’ receiving corps was pedestrian at best last year. Allen went down with an injury after being on pace for a career year. Despite him missing almost half of the season, he led all wide receivers on the team in receptions and yards and touchdowns. Stevie Johnson was the Chargers’ second leading receiver last year with just 45 receptions, while Malcom Floyd finished second in yards among receivers with 561. Floyd, however, is gone and so is his team-leading 10 catches of 20 or more yards. The Chargers needed someone to stretch the field, and Benjamin should become a favorite target down the field for Philip Rivers.
The addition of Benjamin is a huge upgrade over Floyd. Benjamin had 12 catches for more than 20 yards and had 301 yards after the catch compared to just 101 for Floyd. The Chargers’ passing game has been built around short and mid routes, and Benjamin should give them a deep threat to open up things underneath for Antonio Gates, Allen and Woodhead.
Few teams needed to add a receiver of Benjamin’s capabilities like the Chargers. He should have an even better year with Rivers throwing to him instead of the mishmash of quarterbacks the Browns trotted out under center last year. Benjamin could be poised to put up huge numbers and add an element to the Chargers’ passing game that has been sorely missing in recent years.
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