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NFL analyst thinks the time is now for the Chargers to throw in the towel on a former first round pick and trade him away

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 2:05 PM ET

Quentin Johnston is entering his third year in the NFL since being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the 20223 NFL Draft.

He was able to take a solid step forward last season after a disappointing rookie year. He set new career highs across the board with 55 receptions, 711 yards, and eight touchdowns. Despite this jump in production, there are still questions about whether he should be a part of the Chargers' long-term plans at WR. ESPN's Bill Barwell thinks the time is now for the Chargers to move on from the WR and had the team send him elsewhere in a hypothetical three-team trade.

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

ESPN anaylst pitches a deal that has the Chargers trading away Quentin Johnson

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Giants get: 2027 seventh-round pick (from Chargers)
Chargers get: OL Evan Neal, 2026 fifth-round pick (from Cardinals)
Cardinals get: WR Quentin Johnston

- ESPN's Bill Barnwell

The Chargers saw rookie Ladd McConkey have a terrific season with 82 receptions, 1,149 yards, and seven touchdowns. They also decided to select Tre Harris out of Ole Miss in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That forms a solid duo between Harris and McConkey that has a ton of upside. The team also brought veteran Keenan Allen back this offseason to give them a bunch of useful weapons at WR this year.

I think there is an argument to be made that Johnston's jump in year two was big enough to warrant giving him another year with the team. Especially with there being no certainty on the type of production they will get from Allen at this stage of his career, or Harris, who is yet to play at the NFL level. I'd keep all four WRs together to give you the best room possible around McConkey, who proved last year he can be a problem for NFL defenses. Especially if the return would be a failed tackle turned guard who is still struggling in the preseason, like Evan Neal, and a day three draft pick.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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