It has been a very eventful offseason for the Los Angeles Chargers, and free agency has not even arrived yet. The Chargers will have plenty of decisions to make this offseason, and one of them is centered around breakout wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Johnston is on his way into his fourth year in the league. He was drafted out of TCU with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Next season, he is fully under contract with the Chargers. However, there is a club option for the 2027 season, with the deadline to pick up that fifth-year being May 1st.
While some decisions have been difficult this offseason, this one should be easy. The Chargers need to avoid the mistake of giving Johnston any notion that he should leave.
Chargers need Quentin Johnston in 2027
It is no secret that the first two years of QJ's career were majorly disappointing. Confidence and drop issues left Chargers fans feeling down on the prospect of the young WR contributing anytime soon in LA. But Jim Harbaugh and company didn't give up, and Johnston finally broke out in 2025.
Last season, Johnston brought in 8 touchdowns on 735 yards receiving. He looked to be beaming with confidence, playing more like the WR he was with the Horned Frogs rather than the one he was with the Chargers the previous two years.
Now, the Chargers will get the oppurtunity to see what he can do in Year 4 under the elite offensive mind of Mike McDaniel. He has proven that he has taken that next step last year, and the thought og what he can do with McDaniel should be more than enough for the Chargers to pick up that fifth-year option ahead of the deadline.
If the Chargers don't, it would be a huge mistake and could prove a massive blow to Johnston's confidence. He belongs with the Chargers and deserves to be here.
Johnston should use 2026 as an extension campaign
If the Chargers do pick up his fifth-year option and guarantee 2026 won't be his last year in LA, next season should prove to be Johnston's extension campaign. Given he only really had success last year, extending him now could be a misfire.
However, if he can improve upon his 2025 season with McDaniel and a healthy offensive line protecting Justin Herbert, the Chargers need to consider extending him. Letting him walk would be awful for Chargers fans, having watched him finally get out of his slump.
So, if he balls out next year, the Chargers need to lock him down before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.