Antonio Gates is re-signing with the Chargers. Any takers? A future Hall of Famer, but Gates is 38 years old.
Best to pass, I think. Gates has really slowed down in recent years, and now he’s joining a team less than a week before the opener. That doesn’t sound good.
He averaged only 2 catches and 20 yards last year, with 3 TDs in 16 games.
Gates was more credible as a 36-year-old, averaging 4 catches and 40 yards per week, with 7 TDs in 14 games.
In both of those seasons, Gates was sharing the stage with another pass-catching tight end. That’s not the case this year. Their other main tight end is Virgil Green, and he’s best utilized almost exclusively as a blocker.
Those pondering whether to use a last-round pick on Gates are also advised to look at the other pass catchers on this team. The Chargers are really loaded with receiving talent. They have a quartet of wide receivers that might be the best in the league (Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin). They also have a pair of good pass-catching running backs (Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler).
If anybody’s drafting Gates, I hope it’s as a second tight end in a league based solely on touchdowns.
Additionally with the Chargers, notice that they played Hunter Henry on the PUP list. They didn’t place him on season-ending injured reserve. They’re hoping Henry might come back and play this season. That looks unlikely, with Henry having torn his ACL on May 22. If Henry returns (which he won’t) it most likely would be in a limited role in a postseason game.
—Ian Allan