The Los Angeles Chargers will have to see more production out of their wide receivers following the sudden retirement of Mike Williams.
With other players needing to pick up the workload from the recent retiree, the Bolts can see a major increase on the field from their former first-round pick in his third season.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso believes wide receiver Quentin Johnston will be a star for the Chargers next season, including a bold prediction about his stats.
“I still believe in you, Quentin Johnston. Even after what amounted to an embarrassing rookie campaign, when essentially everyone wrote him off for good, the Chargers’ 2023 first-round selection has gobs of uncoachable talent. And he’s now entering the second season with competent coaching,” Trapasso wrote for CBS Sports. “With the majority of attention on Ladd McConkey in Justin Herbert’s offense, Johnston will have a sneaky-good Year 3 and approach, if not eclipse, the 1,000-yard mark.”
“Jim Harbaugh and Co. will manufacture ways to get him the football on high-percentage throws, and his long-striding speed will surprise cornerbacks downfield every once in a while. Yes, Johnston will drop some passes. He’ll also make a handful of spectacular plays at all three levels, particularly against zone, with Herbert firing him the football.”
Johnston saw an increase in production in his second season, jumping from 431 receiving yards to 711 yards. He saw the endzone more in his sophomore season, from two touchdowns to eight under Harbaugh.
Quentin Johnston Drops Issue
GettyLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (right)
Quentin Johnston has had issues with dropping the ball during his career with the LA Chargers, something Trapasso pointed out.
Johnston had 3 drops in his rookie season and 7 in his second season.
“Kind of just going back looking at the things I did wrong, I did right. If I did it right, just keep going on that. If I did wrong, going back seeing what I need to fix. Go over it and just do it better,” the wide receiver said if he did anything different in the offseason.”
If Johnston has fixed — or decreased — his drop rate through the offseason, he will see a mass improvement next season.
Harbaugh has said that Johnston (and McConkey) have been playing at an elite level so far during training camp. Chargers’ wide receivers coach, Sanjay Lal, told Johnston that he would be a starter at the beginning of the season.
New Season Career High In Yards
GettyQuentin Johnston is entering his third season with the LA Chargers
Quentin Johnston saw an improvement of almost 300 receiving yards and 4x his touchdowns under second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.
If the former TCU Horned Frog sees another significant development in his game, Trapasso’s prediction of a 1,000+ yard season could happen.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said he trusts his receivers to help ease the loss of Williams earlier in the offseason.
Johnston won’t play in the Hall of Fame game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, alongside other starters.
Chargers Former First Rounder Predicted To Be Star Next Season