With Justin Herbert’s arm and a YAC-heavy system, the former Horned Frog's elite speed could transform Los Angeles into the NFL's most dangerous vertical threat this season.
Former TCU star Quentin Johnston enters the 2026 NFL season with a chance to take another major step in his development, and ESPN believes the fourth-year wide receiver could be the player who determines just how dangerous the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense becomes.
In a recent look at each team’s biggest X-factor for the upcoming season, ESPN identified Johnston as the player to watch in Los Angeles.
"The McDaniel offense is among the league's best at creating YAC for speedy athletes, and Johnston will benefit from those targets over the middle," Ben Solak writes. "But to really unlock a new level of this offense with the big-armed Justin Herbert at the helm, the Chargers need Johnston's runaway downfield routes to connect... If Johnston delivers this year, the Chargers will put secondaries in an impossible bind."
Johnston has already shown flashes of the potential that made him a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Horned Frog produced a career-best 735 receiving yards in 2025 while finding the end zone eight times, establishing himself as an increasingly important piece of the Chargers' passing attack.
Now, the Chargers are hoping McDaniel's system can unlock another level from the big-bodied receiver
Johnston possesses the speed and size to create problems for opposing defenses, particularly when he is able to get behind the secondary. The Chargers wideout had an average speed of 15.08 mph last season, which ranked among the fastest receivers in the league and was especially impressive among players weighing more than 200 pounds.
The biggest question is whether Johnston can consistently turn that athletic ability into production.
Ladd McConkey is expected to remain a major part of the Chargers' passing game, but Johnston's development could determine the offense's ceiling.
For TCU fans, that makes Johnston one of the most intriguing former Horned Frogs to watch in the NFL this season.
The talent has never been difficult to see. Now, with a new offensive system and another year of NFL experience, Johnston has an opportunity to turn that talent into the consistent production the Chargers envisioned when they drafted him 21st overall.
If he does, ESPN's "X-factor" label could prove to be a very accurate one.
