The Chargers have exercised receiver Quentin Johnston’s fifth-year option, meaning he will make $18 million in 2027. Johnston’s year-over-year improvement has made this feel earned, even if the Chargers could have explored bigger-name options at wide receiver to truly elevate the room for 2026.
Still, if the organization has real belief in Johnston, bringing in Mike McDaniel could be exactly what unlocks the version of him that led to being a first-round pick out of TCU. If McDaniel can tap back into that version of Johnston, the fifth-year option could end up looking like a bargain.
Mike McDaniel can be the coordinator to truly unlock Quentin Johnston
When Johnston entered the league, his size seemed to lead the coaching staff to believe he could become a 50/50 ball specialist in the mold of Mike Williams. However, it quickly became clear that contested catches were not his strength.
Johnston came into the league as a speed threat and a player who could create serious damage with the ball in space. The way Brandon Staley and the previous staff deployed him often didn’t align with those strengths, and it put him in a position where success was always going to be difficult.
Mike McDaniel now has a chance to reset that trajectory. Johnston has improved, and fans have started to see more consistency as his career has progressed. But if there is an offensive mind who can look at Johnston and immediately see ways to create space for him, it’s McDaniel.
Screens, quick game, and easy completions are all elements that can benefit not only Justin Herbert, but Johnston as well. A player who thrived on yards after catch in college has yet to be fully utilized that way at the NFL level, even as he enters year four.
That’s not to say Johnston hasn’t had his struggles. Drops and inconsistency have been part of his game at times. But it would be inaccurate to say he has always been put in the best position to succeed. With a different offensive approach, there is still room for him to take another step forward.
Johnston may not be the player who single-handedly pushes the Chargers over the top if the goal is a Super Bowl in 2026. However, this could be the best opportunity he’s had to prove he can be a meaningful part of that push. If McDaniel can unlock a more dynamic version of Johnston, the impact on the offense could be significant.
The Chargers are betting on that possibility by exercising the option. Now it comes down to whether Johnston, in a new system, can turn that belief into production. If he does, both he and the Chargers will benefit in a big way.
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