The Chargers have agreed to a deal with Travis Benjamin, and I believe this is a case of if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. He should give them some big plays, and he’ll also give a big lift to the special teams.
San Diego, recall, tried to upgrade their punt return unit last year with Jacoby Jones. He was a disaster. He seems to have gotten older and lost a step. After they cut him, the Steelers also plugged him in and quit on him. The Chargers ended up ranking last in punt returns.
Benjamin, meanwhile, has scored 3 TDs on punt returns in the last four years, all from over 70 yards.
With Benjamin as their usual returner, Cleveland over the last four years has averaged a league-high 11.3 yards on punt returns. San Diego, meanwhile, is one of six teams that over the last four years has averged under 8 yards per punt return.
Benjamin also blossomed as a wide receiver last year, hitting on a number of long touchdowns.
Chargers just got better. And with the Broncos having lost both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, the AFC West looks wide open right now.
| PUNT RETURNS, 2012-15 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Team | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 1. | Cleveland | 135 | 1,530 | 11.3 | 3 |
| 2. | Baltimore | 158 | 1,755 | 11.1 | 3 |
| 3. | New England | 166 | 1,797 | 10.8 | 2 |
| 4. | Philadelphia | 136 | 1,455 | 10.7 | 5 |
| 5. | Minnesota | 115 | 1,230 | 10.7 | 3 |
| 6. | Kansas City | 197 | 2,030 | 10.3 | 3 |
| 7. | Tampa Bay | 112 | 1,129 | 10.1 | 0 |
| 8. | Dallas | 128 | 1,264 | 9.9 | 2 |
| 9. | Green Bay | 126 | 1,234 | 9.8 | 4 |
| 10. | Cincinnati | 177 | 1,701 | 9.6 | 1 |
| 11. | Buffalo | 133 | 1,274 | 9.6 | 3 |
| 12. | Carolina | 117 | 1,113 | 9.5 | 1 |
| 13. | Seattle | 172 | 1,636 | 9.5 | 1 |
| 14. | Pittsburgh | 133 | 1,261 | 9.5 | 3 |
| 15. | Tennessee | 130 | 1,229 | 9.5 | 3 |
| 16. | Miami | 131 | 1,238 | 9.5 | 2 |
| 17. | Atlanta | 101 | 949 | 9.4 | 1 |
| 18. | LA Rams | 156 | 1,405 | 9.0 | 4 |
| 19. | Detroit | 135 | 1,187 | 8.8 | 1 |
| 20. | Denver | 162 | 1,367 | 8.4 | 3 |
| 21. | San Francisco | 136 | 1,143 | 8.4 | 0 |
| 22. | Indianapolis | 145 | 1,218 | 8.4 | 1 |
| 23. | NY Jets | 140 | 1,157 | 8.3 | 1 |
| 24. | Chicago | 114 | 940 | 8.2 | 1 |
| 25. | NY Giants | 119 | 981 | 8.2 | 1 |
| 26. | Houston | 166 | 1,359 | 8.2 | 1 |
| 27. | San Diego | 98 | 773 | 7.9 | 1 |
| 28. | Arizona | 153 | 1,205 | 7.9 | 1 |
| 29. | Jacksonville | 132 | 1,015 | 7.7 | 1 |
| 30. | New Orleans | 108 | 793 | 7.3 | 1 |
| 31. | Washington | 132 | 921 | 7.0 | 0 |
| 32. | Oakland | 138 | 912 | 6.6 | 0 |
—Ian Allan