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