Despite GM Joe Hortiz's denials, the Chargers' future with Quentin Johnston remains uncertain, fueled by trade rumors and a looming fifth-year option decision.
I have been writing constantly, for weeks (if not months) on end, about the Los Angeles Chargers' attempts to trade WR Quentin Johnston. I have factored it into my own thoughts and opinions about the 2026 and 2027 Chargers.
The GM of the team (Joe Hortiz), who would be the person to make a decision on trading Johnston, claims that I have been wasting my time and energy:
I hate to be that guy, but I don't believe Joe.
Too many NFL reporters from around the league and country have reported on Quentin Johnston potentially being available in a trade, prior to the team having to make a decision on his fifth-year option (they have about two weeks left before they need to decide), for it to be a made up Twitter rumor the way that Hortiz claimed it to be during today's press conference.
Also, and I apologize for the belligerent capitalization that is about to happen, but WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION ON QUENTIN JOHNSTON'S FIFTH YEAR OPTION?!?
Again, there are two weeks between now and when the team needs to make that decision. Should they decide to opt-in to that option, Johnston's cap hit will jump from $4.5M this year to $16.5M in 2027 before he hits free agency. Should they decline, he'll be a free agent after this season.
The Chargers are not planning on playing any football games in the next two weeks. They don't even have OTAs until well after the deadline to make the decision on Johnston's fifth-year option.
If I was being charitable, I would take Joe Hortiz's statement to mean that the team is going to try and land an X-receiver to replace Johnston in the NFL Draft. Should things not work out in a way that allows them to do that, I suppose they're fine with keeping Quentin Johnston around as a Plan B?
But, hear me out, the positive result actually creates incredible negative leverage for the Chargers. Should they land a top-flight WR in the draft, they will have one week to trade him before having to make a decision on his fifth-year option. At that point, any team they talk to is going to know two things:
- The Chargers are not interested in having Johnston on their team in 2027 for $16.5M.
- The Chargers are probably not interested in having Johnston (2023's 1st round pick) on their team in 2026 because that would take away snaps from Ladd McConkey (2024's 2nd round pick) and (2025's 2nd round pick) Tre' Harris II, not to mention the new-found rookie WR.
My best guess is that this is a negotiating tactic from Hortiz. He's not getting what he wants in trade discussions, so he's going to act like he's totally fine with Johnston being the team's #1 WR in 2026. He's also going to imply that he's fine with Johnston either leaving via free agency after this upcoming season or fine with giving him a sizable jump in salary in 2027.
I think he wants to move Johnston, but he doesn't want to get put over a barrel during the negotiations. Unfortunately, by waiting this long, Hortiz has backed himself into a corner that he probably can't talk his way out of.
Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe all of the reports of the Chargers looking for an upgrade from their X-receiver spot are wrong. Maybe Joe Hortiz is actually comfortable heading into the 2026 NFL season with minor changes along the offensive line and no other substantial roster moves on the offensive side of the ball.
We'll find out soon enough.