The Chargers re-signed wide receiver Jalen Guyton yesterday, and while it's a lower-profile move, it might turn out to be a valuable one. Guyton got hurt early on a year ago, and the offense missed him.

In Guyton's breakout season of 2020 (Justin Herbert's rookie season), Guyton stepped up as a quality No. 3. He turned 55 targets into 28 catches for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging over 18 yards per reception. That's one of the top averages of any wide receiver over the past three seasons (minimum 50 targets).

A year later, he averaged a healthy 14.5 yards per reception, and maybe 2022 would have been another strong season in that regard. One of his 2 catches at the start of the year went for 54 yards. But he tore his ACL, and the offense didn't really have anyone to threaten defenses deep with him gone. Mike Williams was best (14.2 yards per reception), but even that was below what he'd done the previous two seasons with Guyton also on the field (he was up over 15 yards per catch in those years). Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter all averaged 10-12 yards per catch, and the passing game wasn't as potent as the previous year. Herbert threw 12 fewer touchdowns (38-26) and averaged 16 fewer passing yards per game (295-279).

There were probably other offensive issues than just Guyton's absence, but I think he gave it an element they couldn't replace.

Table below shows all wide receivers to average at least 15 yards per catch the last three seasons (minimum 50 targets).

WRS AVERAGING OVER 15 YARDS PER CATCH, 2020-2022
YearPlayerTgtNoRecAvgTD
2020Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.633369020.96
2020Nelson Agholor, L.V.824889618.78
2021Deebo Samuel, S.F.12177140518.36
2020Jalen Guyton, LAC552851118.33
2020DJ Moore, Car.11866119318.14
2022Jaylen Waddle, Mia.11775135618.18
2021JaMarr Chase, Cin.12881145518.013
2021Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cle.583459717.63
2022Gabe Davis, Buff.934883617.47
2020Gabe Davis, Buff.623559917.17
2022A.J. Brown, Phil.14588149617.011
2020Breshad Perriman, NYJ603050516.83
2021Bryan Edwards, L.V.593457116.83
2022Corey Davis, NYJ643253616.82
2022DJ Chark, Det.523050216.73
2020Will Fuller, Hou.755387916.68
2021Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.552643016.53
2020Jerry Jeudy, Den.1135285616.53
2022Marquez Valdes-Scantling, K.C.814268716.42
2020Rashard Higgins, Cle.523759916.24
2021Tyler Lockett, Sea.10773117516.18
2021Van Jefferson, LAR895080216.06
2021Keelan Cole, NYJ512844916.01
2020Justin Jefferson, Min.12588140015.97
2022Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten.502539715.93
2021Deonte Harris, N.O.593657015.83
2020Mike Williams, LAC854875615.85
2022Darius Slayton, NYG714672415.72
2020DK Metcalf, Sea.12983130315.710
2021A.J. Green, Ariz.925484815.73
2021Gabe Davis, Buff.633554915.76
2022Terry McLaurin, Was.12077119115.55
2022George Pickens, Pitt.845280115.44
2020A.J. Brown, Ten.10670107515.411
2020Calvin Ridley, Atl.14390137415.39
2020Scott Miller, T.B.533350115.23
2021Marquez Callaway, N.O.844669815.26
2022Davante Adams, L.V.180100151615.214
2020Corey Davis, Ten.926598415.15
2020Julio Jones, Atl.685177115.13
2021Mike Williams, LAC12976114615.19
2021Quez Watkins, Phil.624364715.11
2020Darius Slayton, NYG965075115.03
2021Justin Jefferson, Min.167108161615.010

I saw a report last week that the Chargers might be looking to add a wideout early in the NFL Draft. That makes sense, with Allen turning 31 next week. He and Williams (29 this season) have both battled injuries at various points. Maybe they'll be interested in one of the intriguing youngsters: Jordan Addison, Jalin Hyatt.

But the team has other needs, so perhaps Guyton will wind up serving as that big-play wideout. No better than the No. 4, if everyone else is healthy; hard to actually get behind drafting Guyton in anywhere but a best-ball format, and in a final round at that. But his presence might help the rest of the offense.

--Andy Richardson