The Los Angeles Chargers could trade wide receiver Quentin Johnston just two years after they used a first-round pick to secure his services. Following a disastrous rookie season under former head coach Brandon Staley, Johnston had something of a bounce-back season in 2024. While he never came close to justifying his draft capital, he finished the year with a respectable 55 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns while serving as the second option in a playoff-caliber passing attack.
However, the Chargers offseason moves suggest Quentin Johnston will see a reduced role in 2025, and Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes the team could send him away. This makes sense, as the team brought back old friend Mike Williams as a free agent and selected wide receiver Tre Harris in the second round of the draft. With so many new mouths to feed in what should be a run-heavy offense, the following four teams could probably get more out of Johnston than the Chargers.
Chargers Could Trade Quentin Johnston Before Season Starts
Best Team Fits
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have a medium-ceiling, low-floor group of wide receivers that may or may not be capable of bringing out the best in franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Veteran Stefon Diggs is coming off a serious knee injury, Kendrick Bourne looked slow last year, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are nothing more than adequate depth options, and Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker had disastrous rookie seasons. Perhaps rookie Kyle Williams can bring stability to this group, but a Quentin Johnston trade could give Maye another set of hands with decent upside.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns need all the help they can find to get some production out of this disastrous quarterback room. No matter who wins the battle between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns lose. This team is in a rebuild, and they might as well invest in a receiver with 1,100 yards to his name entering his age-24 season. Ideally, he could help turn either Gabriel or Sanders into a starting-caliber quarterback.
New Orleans Saints
After years of kicking the can down the road, the New Orleans Saints are finally embracing a long-overdue rebuild. With Derek Carr’s status uncertain for the upcoming season, there’s a better than even chance that rookie quarterback Tyler Shough starts the majority of the season. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are a fine duo, but pulling off a trade for a young, cost-controlled player with upside like Quentin Johnston could help lay the foundation for sustained success.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the NFL’s best rosters, but they could use more wide receiver depth. While Pro Bowler Zay Flowers is an adequate starter, Rashod Bateman is inconsistent and the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. With the Chargers needing a tight end, perhaps the Ravens could trade Mark Andrews to Los Angeles for Quentin Johnston and a draft pick.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – Imagn Images
