Quentin Johnston took a big step forward in 2025, but his lingering inconsistency catching the ball makes the Chargers’ fifth-year option decision tricky. His upside is clear — now the question is how much the team is willing to invest.
The Quentin Johnston conversation is officially at an interesting crossroads. As the Chargers look ahead to the next phase of roster building, Johnston’s rookie contract timeline forces a real decision: do they commit long-term by picking up his fifth-year option, or do they let things play out and reassess later?
On paper, Johnston gave the Chargers exactly what they were hoping for in 2025. After a rocky start to his career, he took a legitimate step forward and became a productive part of the offense. His size, athleticism and ability to create yards after the catch finally translated more consistently on Sundays. He showed flashes of being the type of physical receiver who can stress defenses vertically and punish smaller defensive backs in space. For long stretches last season, he looked like a player trending up rather than one simply surviving on draft pedigree.
That growth matters because development was always going to be the key with Johnston. He was never viewed as a finished product coming out of college, and 2025 showed why patience can pay off. He looked more comfortable within the offense, played with better confidence and showed improved chemistry with Justin Herbert. If that trajectory continues, it’s easy to imagine Johnston becoming a reliable long-term starter in this offense rather than just a rotational weapon.
However, the concerns that followed him into the league haven’t fully disappeared. Catch consistency remains the biggest sticking point. While his highlight plays are impressive, there are still too many routine catches that feel like an adventure. Drops and concentration lapses pop up at inopportune times, and those moments are hard to ignore when evaluating whether to make a sizable financial commitment. The Chargers don’t need Johnston to be perfect, but they do need him to be dependable, especially in critical situations.
That’s where the fifth-year option decision looms large. Because Johnston was a first-round pick, the Chargers must decide whether to exercise that option well before his rookie deal expires. Picking it up would lock him in for another year at a fully guaranteed salary that reflects starting-level money. Declining it doesn’t mean the team is giving up on him, but it does signal hesitation about committing long-term.
The dilemma is simple: upside versus certainty. Johnston’s ceiling is still enticing, especially after the strides he made in 2025. Wide receivers often take time to fully put it together, and there’s a reasonable argument that his best football is still ahead of him. At the same time, inconsistency at the catch point is a real concern for an offense that needs to be efficient and precise.
Ultimately, this decision may come down to context. If Johnston continues building on his 2025 season and shows improved reliability early on, investing in him makes sense. If the inconsistencies persist, the Chargers may be better off keeping flexibility and letting him prove it year by year.
Either way, Quentin Johnston has earned the right to be part of the conversation. Now it’s on the Chargers to decide just how much they’re willing to bet on his continued growth.