We’re kicking off the journey to the Chargers Quarter-Century Team by voting on the team’s WR1 since 2000.
ESPN recently made waves by putting together their NFL Quarter-Century Team (2000-2024) and it was not without some head-scratching decisions, especially at running back where they completely kept LADAINIAN TOMLINSON out off the starting team ENTIRELY!
We just can’t let that slide.
Over the next two weeks, we’re going to make our own Quarter-Century Team for the Chargers and give some of these guys the recognition that they deserve, especially on those teams during the mid-late 2000s.
Now before we get started, I have to preface this whole thing by noting we will not be doing any votes on quarterback, RB1, and tight end because those three spots are obviously going to be taken by Philip Rivers, Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates. There’s just no need vote on them at all.
With that in mind, we’re starting here with WR1 and, yes, I know this one is likely also not worth voting on because it’s Keenan Allen’s spot to lose, but taking four polls out of this project just seemed like a lot. So, we’re going to go through the motions regardless. Once this poll is complete, we’ll run through it again without the winning vote-getter to find out who will hold the WR2 spot on the team.
Keenan Allen (2013-2023)
Allen joined the Chargers as a third-round pick back in 2013. He immediately made an impact as a rookie, leading the team in receiving yards (1,046) and finishing with a team-high eight touchdown catches. His yardage set the franchise rookie record and set the pace for a very productive career in both San Diego and Los Angeles. Allen ended his 11-year run with the Chargers by being named to the Pro Bowl six times while recording 10,530 receiving yards and 59 touchdown catches, good for second and third most in team history, respectively.
Malcom Floyd (2004-2015)
Floyd’s career with the Chargers started as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Wyoming in 2004. While he never got over the 1,000-yard threshold in any one season, his consistency as WR2/3 for the team never went underappreciated. In 12 years with the Chargers, Floyd amassed 5,550 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. He recorded at least 700 receiving yards five times and hit five or more receiving scores four times before retiring in 2015.
Mike Williams (2017-2023)
Williams was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft following a year where Allen missed all but one half of a single game with a torn ACL. After a slow start to his career via injuries, Williams broke out in year two with 11 total touchdowns in 2018. He then went on to record his first 1,000-yard season in 2019 where he averaged a whopping 20.4 yards per reception. Before being released prior to the 2024 season (and signed back again this offseason), Williams recorded 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Vincent Jackson (2005-2011)
The two-time Pro Bowler for the Chargers joined the team as a second-round pick in 2005. At 6’4 and 241 pounds, Jackson was an athletic freak the way he could stride down the field with 4.50 speed despite being the size of a tight end. After recording a little over 1,100 yards in his first three seasons, Jackson broke out in 2008 with 1,098 yards, notching the first of his three 1,000-yard seasons with the Chargers. Before his time with the Bolts came to an end, he was named to two Pro Bowls and racked up 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns.