Troubling Los Angeles Chargers news on Quentin Johnston ahead of 2024 season

The Los Angeles Chargers spent the 21st overall pick on Quentin Johnston in the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping he could become a breakout playmaker for an offense that needed long-term options. Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the outlook already appears grim for the former first-round pick.

Johnston is receiving a golden opportunity this offseason. With Mike Williams and Keenan Allen both off the team, the Chargers depth chart at wide receiver is rather barren. While rookie wideout Ladd McConkey projects to lead the team in receptions, the pecking order for targets is wide-open.

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The addition of head coach Jim Harbaugh paired with a new Chargers coaching staff and front office also provided Johnston with a fresh start. Fresh voices and guidance could help him take critical steps towards ascension in his career. However, that doesn’t appear to be happening ahead of training camp.

Danel Popper of The Athletic wrote in his preview for Chargers training camp that he currently believes the three top wide receivers deployed next season will be McConkey, Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark.

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As for Johnston, he currently appears poised to be the fourth wide receiver on the Chargers depth chart heading into training cam. The former All-Big 12 playmaker at TCU was one of the NFL’s worst route runners in 2023 and it remains an open question of whether or not he improved over the offseason.

• Quentin Johnston stats (2023): 38 receptions, 431 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 11.3 yards per reception, 20 first downs on 67 targets

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Limited to just 10 starts last season, Johnston had more lowlights than highlights as a rookie. The 6-foot-3 receiver finished 89th in yards per route run ( 0.92 ), 129th in route win rate (34.6 percent), 123rd in win rate versus man coverage (20.7 percent) and 59th in true catch rate (88.4 percent).

On a run-oriented offense with McConkey expected to see a heavy target share, Johnston’s outlook in his second NFL season isn’t promising. If he spends the majority of the year third or fourth in terms of targets drawn by wide receivers, it’s very possible Johnston won’t be back with the team in 2025.

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