Chargers Could Shop Quentin Johnston

Johnston joined the Chargers as the 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft, ex-general manager Tom Telesco’s last with the franchise. The former TCU standout hasn’t consistently lived up to his his first-round stock, though.

Johnston played a full season as a rookie, but he underwhelmed with 38 catches, 431 yards and two touchdowns. While Johnston’s drop rate rose from 4.5 percent to 7.7% in his second year, he improved to 55 receptions, 711 yards and eight scores in 15 games. Although Johnston missed three games in 2025, it ranks as the most productive season of his career thus far. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder racked up 51 grabs for 735 yards and another eight TDs, and he dropped a personal-best 2.4% of passes.

The progress Johnston showed last year clearly impressed GM Joe Hortiz, who signed off on the wideout’s $18.1MM option for 2027. However, in what has been a Murphy’s Law season for the injury-riddled, underperforming Chargers, Johnston and other key offensive players have gone backward under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Johnston has caught seven of 19 targets for 108 yards, dropped a pair of passes and gone without a TD. He is on pace for 30 receptions and 459 yards over a 17-game season, which would be on par with his lackluster rookie output. To worsen matters, he will not be in position to better his numbers in Week 5. Johnston will miss the Chargers’ meeting with the AFC West rival Broncos on Sunday because of a chest injury.

With Johnston’s stock down in Los Angeles, the two sides could be headed for a divorce in the next few weeks. It remains to be seen if anyone would be willing to take on the slumping Johnston’s fully guaranteed salary, but getting rid of it would create an even more favorable cap situation for the Chargers. They already have approximately $70.74MM in spending room for 2027, per Over the Cap. The Chargers will try to claw back into contention in the meantime, but between the injuries and a grueling schedule, this already looks like a lost season.