Chargers' 2024 Breakout Player: Quentin Johnston (NFL)
NFL

Chargers' 2024 Breakout Player: Quentin Johnston

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
author image

Los Angeles Chargers sophomore wide receiver Quentin Johnston did not meet expectations as a first-round pick last season. Forecasting him into a much larger role opens the door for Johnston to experience a breakout campaign in 2024. He must seize his opportunities.

The No. 22 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft produced just 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Johnston should have been the unquestioned WR2 opposite Keenan Allen after Mike Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3. It didn't necessarily work out that way.

Johnston did earn the second-most snaps among all Chargers receivers at 748, just 31 fewer than Allen (779), who missed time too but still totaled 108 catches and 1,243 yards in 13 appearances. Despite seeing the field with regularity, Johnston ranked fourth in targets, receptions, and yards. The first-rounder didn't possess the complete trust of his quarterbacks and coaching staff.

The struggles were evident. Johnston ranked 61st among 63 qualifying receivers in yards per route run, according to FantasyPros. Chargers quarterbacks saw a passer rating of just 82.3 when targeting him in the passing game, per Pro Football Focus.

And then there were the focus drops. The lowlight of Johnston's rookie campaign was the dropping of a potential 70-yard game-winning touchdown. A lack of concentration was a recurring problem.

Year two welcomes a much-needed fresh start for Johnston after a rookie season to forget. A new general manager (Joe Horitz) and head coach (Jim Harbaugh) are present. Though they're not the decision-makers who drafted Johnston, the former TCU playmaker will appreciate forming new relationships.

Johnston will also have a new offensive coordinator in Greg Roman and a new position coach in Sanjay Lal. Lal spent last season coaching D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seattle. 

Roman has already discussed moving Johnston around the offensive formation this year. 

"We’ve done some different things with Johnston, not just lining him up outside, and he’s looked great doing it," Roman said.

Most importantly, opportunity is expected to be present in bunches. Williams was released from his contract as a cap casualty. The difficult situation financially also forced the Chargers to put Allen on the market, a development that culminated in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

There is no clear-cut No. 1 receiver on the Chargers' roster. Joshua Palmer returns after arguably being the player that most benefited from Johnston's struggles last season. Horitz and Harbaugh utilized an early second-round pick (No. 34) on wide receiver Ladd McConkey. All three wideouts will attempt to establish themselves as Justin Herbert's go-to playmaker.

Even the tight end position has been downgraded in Johnston’s favor. Last year’s starter was Gerald Everett, who saw three more targets (70) than Johnston and totaled just 20 fewer receiving yards. He’s been replaced by lower-upside pass catchers in Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst.

It's far too early to slap Johnston with the ever-dreaded "bust" label, though the warning signs were present throughout his disappointing rookie season. He couldn't ask for a better second-year opportunity following the offseason departures of Allen and Williams. The onus is on Johnston to take advantage.



Loading...
Privacy Policy

© Copyright 2025 The Draft Network