Los Angeles Chargers: Joshua Kelley predicted to be impact rookie
By Nick Ziegler
The Los Angeles Chargers looked to improve their team through the 2020 NFL Draft. Of their rookies, who will have the biggest impact next season.
In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers knew they were going to have addressed the quarterback position after letting Philip Rivers go to the Indianapolis Colts.
Without Rivers, the Chargers were set to roll with Tyrod Taylor as the starter. While Taylor might be the starter for the Chargers in 2020, they did draft Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the draft.
The selection of Herbert was one that was met with a lot of scrutiny. Many felt that the Chargers reached on Herbert, but there was no denying that they needed a quarterback. While quarterback was a position of need, the Chargers also had one at the running back position after letting Melvin Gordon walk in free agency.
After holding out for part of last season, it was clear that Gordon’s time in Los Angeles was coming to an end. The Chargers didn’t budge and give him a new deal, so Gordon left in free agency to join the Denver Broncos.
Even though the Chargers have a good running back in Austin Ekeler, he is more of a receiving back than a runner. So, in the fourth round, the Chargers selected Joshua Kelley from UCLA.
Despite being a fourth-round pick, Bleacher Report recently predicted that Kelley would be the biggest impact rookie for the Chargers.
Considering he was their third overall player taken and was a fourth-round pick, this is some high praise for Kelley. As a powerful runner, Kelley could be a great change of pace back to Ekeler in the backfield.
No matter who the quarterback is for the Chargers, they will have to be able to run the ball effectively if they want to succeed. It is hard to imagine that Taylor or Herbert are going to win games having to throw the ball 50 times a day. So, they will need to be good on the ground with their talented defense.
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Despite being a fourth-round pick, it will be interesting to see what Kelley can do in his rookie season. Being named as the biggest impact for the Chargers would be pretty impressive if he pulls it off considering they had two picks in the first round.