Quentin Johnston finally broke out in 2025, but questions still remain. With the Chargers undecided on his fifth-year option, is now the time to trade him—or would that be selling too soon on a rising playmaker?
The idea of trading Quentin Johnston has been floating around, but if you’re the Chargers, it’s not nearly as simple as flipping a former first-round pick for whatever you can get. In fact, based on how things played out in 2025, moving on from him right now might be premature.
Let’s start with the obvious: Johnston finally showed real signs of life. After a rocky start to his career, he put together a productive 2025 season, hauling in 51 receptions for 735 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. That kind of red-zone production doesn’t just grow on trees. For a team that didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard—ranking middle of the pack offensively—having a reliable touchdown target matters.
And here’s the thing: the Chargers’ wide receiver room is far from settled. Ladd McConkey led the team in receiving yards with 789, but there wasn’t a true alpha presence. The rest of the group feels more like complementary pieces than long-term cornerstones. That makes Johnston’s development even more important.
Now, Joe Hortiz recently shut down trade speculation, which tells you a lot about how the front office views Johnston internally. At the same time, he acknowledged the team hasn’t decided on Johnston’s fifth-year option yet. That’s the key tension here. The Chargers like the player, but they’re not fully sold on committing long-term—at least not yet.
From a roster-building standpoint, this is where things get interesting. If Johnston had followed up his strong 2025 with another inconsistent year, then sure, you’d explore trade options. But right now, his value is in a weird spot. You’re not getting first-round value back, and you’d essentially be selling low on a player who just started to figure things out. That’s rarely a winning move.
There’s also the offensive system to consider. With changes on the coaching staff and the possibility of leaning into a more explosive, speed-based attack, Johnston’s skill set actually fits. He’s not a polished route technician, but he brings size and big-play ability—traits that can still be maximized in the right scheme.
On the flip side, you can understand the hesitation. Johnston’s early struggles weren’t minor. Drops, inconsistency and questions about his route running all showed up on tape. One productive season doesn’t erase that entirely. The Chargers have to decide whether 2025 was the start of a breakout or just a temporary spike.
Ultimately, trading Johnston right now feels like a move driven more by impatience than strategy. The smarter play is to let this ride into 2026. See if he can build on last season, become more consistent and prove he’s worth that fifth-year option. If he takes another step, you’ve got a legit weapon on a rookie deal. If he regresses, then you revisit the conversation.
For now, the Chargers would be better off betting on the upward trend rather than pulling the plug too early.