Chargers Buzz: Brenen Thompson: Intriguing Rookie WR
The Los Angeles Chargers selected wide receiver Brenen Thompson in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft, the No. 105 overall pick, after he led the SEC in receiving yards during his lone season at Mississippi State. Thompson has an interesting skill set that could help him carve out a consistent role before too long.
Thompson’s path to Los Angeles wasn’t a straight line. He started his college career at Texas, transferred to Oklahoma for two seasons, then found his breakout in a single year with the Bulldogs, finishing with 1,054 receiving yards and setting the program’s single-season record. He backed that production up at the combine, running a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash and clocking a top speed of over 24 miles per hour, numbers that stood out even in a fast receiver class.
Thompson enters a room led by Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, with Tre’ Harris currently occupying the third receiver spot. Due to a lack of experience at this level, Thompson will likely begin the season behind Harris on the depth chart, but that gap might not last long if his speed translates the way it did in college.
If Thompson proves himself capable of running a fuller route tree and handling NFL-level coverage, he has the athletic profile to factor into the Chargers’ weekly game plan as the season progresses. His speed alone gives him a way to stretch defenses and create explosive-play opportunities that few rookies at his draft slot can offer.
He isn’t an ideal option in redraft formats this year, given the uncertainty around his role and the players ahead of him on the depth chart. But for dynasty managers willing to be patient, Thompson is a name worth stashing, especially in an offense that could use more juice at the receiver position beyond its top two names.
