All NFL rosters must be trimmed down from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 26.
Trades are a big part of that process, and we've already seen several over the past few days . ESPN's Bill Barnwell cooked up a fascinating three-way trade proposal featuring the Arizona Cardinals, giving them an offensive player for a very reasonable price. Here's how it played out:
New (free) column: 10 would-be trades that (might?) make sense for both teams in advance of teams cutting down to 53 and the start of the regular season https://t.co/Uz6B6TkNAi
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) August 25, 2025
From Bill Barnwell : "In Arizona, Johnston would have an opportunity to compete with Greg Dortch and work out of the slot more often than he would in Los Angeles, where Allen and Ladd McConkey would be prioritized. Johnston has signed for the next two years at a total of $4.2 million, which is perfectly reasonable for a third/fourth wideout."
The Chargers selected Johnston 21st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had a disappointing rookie season, recording just 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns. However, he took a big step forward in Year 2, posting 55 catches for 711 yards and eight TDs.
Despite making progress last year, Johnston could get lost in the shuffle among a good group of pass catchers in Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, Keenan Allen, Will Dissly, and Tyler Conklin. A change of scenery in Arizona could be just what Johnston needs.
As Barnwell points out, Johnston could be utilized more effectively in the Cardinals' offense. The talent is certainly there as he proved last year, and he could be the perfect counterpart to No. 1 WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Acquiring Johnston would also give quarterback Kyler Murray another weapon to work with to take Arizona's offense to the next level.
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