Quentin Johnston’s option sends a message: Chargers building around Justin Herbert’s window

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Quentin Johnston’s option sends a message: Chargers building around Justin Herbert’s window

Originally posted on HITC | By Joe Kiemen | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 6:55 PM ET

The Chargers didn’t exercise Quentin Johnston’s fifth-year option just to be nice. They made the call because he’d gone from a developmental project to someone who clearly fit into their plans.

After putting up 51 catches, 735 yards, and eight touchdowns in 2025, Los Angeles signalled that Johnston was no longer viewed as a player in need of fixing. He’s now seen as a contributor who matters in Justin Herbert’s window.

Johnston’s stats are part of the story, but it’s the role he played that stands out. The Chargers kept using him as a downfield and boundary threat, and he finally gave them enough presence on the outside to balance what had been a more short-focused passing attack.

This isn’t just about filling up the depth chart with similar profiles. Herbert needs variation, something that forces defensive coordinators into uncomfortable choices.

Extending Johnston is less about what he showed in flashes and more about what Los Angeles now believes he can provide consistently: an outside threat they can rely on week after week.

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Los Angeles is trying to stabilise Herbert’s receiver ecosystem

The Chargers’ decision to pick up Johnston’s option isn’t just about locking in another year. It’s about giving themselves a chance to build a balanced group around Herbert.

Ladd McConkey already plays a key role, but Johnston’s ability to stretch the field takes pressure off rookies or depth players who aren’t built for that job.

This isn’t just an early move on a contract either. The Chargers didn’t just keep a player – they kept a role that shapes how Herbert reads the game and how the offence creates room for everyone else.

Now it’s about sustaining it

Johnston still has to follow up with another productive year, especially since teams now recognise him as a threat over the top. The next step is showing he can handle being more of a steady presence, not just someone who provides the occasional highlight.

That’s a reasonable expectation at this point in his career. What matters more is that the Chargers are no longer treating him as an uncertainty. They’ve moved past the evaluation stage and are building around him in a real way.

For Los Angeles, that shift is what stands out. Fifth-year options usually boil down to financial strategy, but this one feels different. It signals Johnston has earned a place in their long-term vision, which wasn’t always a sure thing.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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