Chargers Playmaker Named Potential Breakout Candidate For 2024

The Los Angeles Chargers have a whole lot of questions on offense heading into 2024.

The Chargers lost three key playmakers this offseason, trading wide receiver Keenan Allen, cutting fellow wide out Mike Williams and watching running back Austin Ekeler sign elsewhere in free agency.

That trio of players represented a major percentage of Los Angeles’ offense for years, so it will certainly be an adjustment period for the Bolts going into next season.

Right now, LA has no clue who its No. 1 receiver will be, which is why Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport thinks this is the perfect opportunity for Quentin Johnston to step up.

The Chargers originally selected Johnston with the 21st pick of the NFL Draft last spring, but he certainly didn’t perform like a first-round pick in 2023.

Johnston played every game, but logged just 38 catches for 431 yards and a couple of touchdowns. And that was with Williams missing most of the season with a torn ACL.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Johnston certainly has the physical profile of an elite receiver. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but his size and ability to get yards after the catch make him a rather tantalizing prospect.

Plus, he has one of the most talented quarterbacks in football in Justin Herbert throwing him the pigskin.

The question is, will the 22-year-old take advantage of this opportunity?

Los Angeles has Joshua Palmer and just drafted Ladd McConkey at wide receiver. Outside of that, there really isn’t much competition at the position.

Given that LA used such a high draft choice in Johnston last offseason, you would think that the Chargers would want him to win the No. 1 receiver role outright (although it should be noted that Johnston was drafted by a completely different regime).

Los Angeles must have some confidence in Johnston moving forward for it to subtract its two top receivers this offseason, even if the Chargers’ primary reason for parting ways with both Allen and Williams was for financial reasons.

Whether or not Johnston will actually live up to his billing and seize this big chance remains to be seen.

Los Angeles went 5-12 this past season and has made just two trips to the playoffs since 2014.