The Los Angeles Chargers lost their top two wide receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, which has put an awful lot of pressure on second-year wide out Quentin Johnston.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz seems to think Johnston will handle it just fine and expects him to take a big leap in 2024.
“That’s what a lot of rookie seasons look like,” Hortiz said of Johnston’s rather underwhelming debut campaign, via Eric Smith of the Chargers’ official team website. “But he flashed some really impressive traits and the good thing is when you’re looking at your roster, you’re looking at it all the time, you’re watching the film all the time. Every time you put on the tape, you see the talent and I expect him to make the jump. I know we have the right coaches to help him make the jump. I feel good about the guys that are here.”
Johnston, who played his collegiate football at TCU, was selected by Los Angeles with the 21st overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 22-year-old played in every game during his rookie campaign, catching 38 passes for 431 yards and a couple of touchdowns in an auxiliary role.
While Williams missed most of last season due to a torn ACL, Johnston was still behind Allen on the depth chart, and he competed with fellow receiver Josh Palmer, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Gerald Everett for touches.
Well, not only are Williams and Allen gone, but Ekeler and Everett departed, as well.
That leaves LA with Palmer, Johnston and not a whole lot else in its aerial attack, putting the onus on Johnston to deliver in his sophomore campaign.
It should be noted that Hortiz did not draft Johnston, as he was not installed as the franchise’s general manager until this offseason.
Still, he seems to like what he sees in Johnston.
We’ll see if the Chargers decide to draft another receiver with the fifth overall pick in the draft next month in order to provide Quentin Johnston with some support.
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