For the last few years, the Los Angeles Chargers have needed a legitimate speed threat at wide receiver in order to take advantage of quarterback Justin Herbert’s throwing arm, which resembles a military-grade rocket launcher. In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they thought they had found one when they took Quentin Johnston out of Texas Christian University.
But Johnston, by and large, has been a disappointment in his two pro seasons. As a rookie, he had a modest 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns, and although he showed some spark last year with eight touchdowns, his 55 catches and 711 receiving yards were still considered too low.
Now that the Chargers are a legitimate playoff team and looking to take the next step, they need playmakers who will produce. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named one player that each NFL team should look to trade before the start of the 2025 regular season, and he said L.A. should look to trade Johnston.
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The writer pointed out how Johnston’s mediocre numbers and low catch percentage (58.9% in two seasons), combined with the emergence of Ladd McConkey and the return of Chargers mainstay WR Keenan Allen, could lead to Johnston’s role being diminished. He even implied that coach Jim Harbaugh could bench the 23-year-old.
After many years of heartbreak and bad luck, the Chargers now appear to have a soul thanks to the hiring of Harbaugh a year ago. The coach is a proven winner and has succeeded everywhere he has been, whether it was with the San Francisco 49ers a decade ago or with the University of Michigan, the school he led to the national championship 19 months ago.
But the Bolts don’t have enough pieces to go from pretenders to contenders. While they were excellent on defense last year, finishing first in points allowed and third in first downs given up, their offense, particularly their passing offense, lacks oomph.
They were 13th in passing touchdowns, 19th in passing yards and 28th in passing attempts in 2024. Additionally, they were an anemic 18th in red zone touchdown percentage.
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Herbert is one of football’s most naturally talented QBs, and at age 27, he doesn’t have all day to wait around for L.A. to surround him with a Super Bowl-caliber cast. Perhaps Johnston will have to go sooner rather than later for the Chargers to earn their first Vince Lombardi Trophy within the next few years.
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