After slashing drop rates and developing deep chemistry with Justin Herbert, the Chargers playmaker breaks into the NFL’s elite tier following a career-high eight-touchdown campaign.
Former TCU star Quentin Johnston continues to earn respect around the NFL, and his latest recognition came from Bleacher Report's annual B/R NFL 1000 rankings.
Johnston checked in at No. 31 among all wide receivers entering the 2026 season, a sign that the former Horned Frog has established himself as one of the league's rising playmakers after showing steady improvement with the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Johnston is a big, fast wide receiver with a route tree that has numerous branches," BR writes. "He earned Justin Herbert's trust last season, especially when they wanted an explosive play. There are a few concentration drops, but he's improved yearly."
The former TCU standout enters the 2026 campaign coming off another productive season in which he posted a career high 735 receiving yards on 51 receptions while matching his previous career best with eight touchdown catches. Over the last two seasons, Johnston has totaled 16 receiving touchdowns, tying him with some of the league's top pass catchers during that span.
For TCU fans, Johnston's rise comes as little surprise. During his three seasons in Fort Worth, he established himself as one of the most dynamic offensive players in college football. His combination of size, speed, and run-after-catch ability made him a nightmare for opposing defenses and helped lead the Horned Frogs to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Johnston had a bit of problem with drops in his first couple of seasons, specifically the 2024 season when he had seven. But this past year he dropped that number down to four, as he became a more dependable target for Justin Herbert.
Being ranked No. 31 among all NFL wide receivers places Johnston just behind Ladd McConkey and ahead of Keenan Allen, which is solid considering he was regarded by many as the worst of the three just a season ago.
As the Chargers prepare for another season with high expectations, Johnston will have an opportunity to build on his breakout performances and prove he belongs even higher on next year's rankings.
