The Athletic’s Daniel Popper believes Georgia WR Zachariah Branch could be “the missing ingredient” in Chargers OC Mike McDaniel’s scheme.

09 April 2026

Popper begins by saying that the Chargers are excited to see their incumbent wide receivers in McDaniel’s new system, but thinks they need “a shifty, speedy, YAC weapon.” Branch fits the bill. He ran a 4.35-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine, possessing “dynamic speed and the linear twitch to threaten the defense before and after the catch.” That said, among the 93 targets he earned in 2025, 46 were screen passes. He will likely need time to develop as a route runner, regardless of his landing spot.