The NFL Draft always seems to bring out some unexpected moves by teams, some of which might be desperate for drastic improvement, and others hope to have the chance to select the best talent of the incoming class. The Chargers can achieve that with pick No. 22, and potentially engage in a trade (or two) for some of their more valuable players.
That would explain why there was some conversation about a player like Trey Pipkins being on the trade block, but Jim Harbaugh and Co. shut that down quickly. There might be some other intriguing names to consider when taking calls, with the latest suggestion being wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano mentioned the 2023 first-rounder as a possible asset for the Chargers to move on from, not for any particular hope of what they could get in return and if they could use that pick on a specific player in this year's draft, but primarily due to his less than impressive production thus far.
Considering his performance over the past two years has not lived up to his first-round status, some argue that they should move him now before they can't get anything in return. But there is a lot to consider before making such a decision, with Justin Herbert being the leading cause for concern about getting rid of another receiver this offseason.
The Chargers need to have a solid plan in place before deciding if Quentin Johnston is worth trading
In his explanation for trading Johnston this year, Vacchiano discusses the fact that he was drafted by the previous coaching staff and not current head coach Jim Harbaugh, which might make it more likely they will be willing to trade him away, especially since Johnston hasn't been too thrilling to watch so far.
However, unless they plan on using a high-round pick on Johnston's replacement or even bringing back a player like Keenan Allen, even at his age, they shouldn't seriously consider stripping another receiver away from Herbert just yet.
“It's really hard to justify giving up on this first-round pick, even if he hasn't played up to that level just yet. He's still only 23 and he's 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, so there's real hope that there's a lot of upside left for a player who topped out at 55 catches, 711 yards and 8 touchdowns last year.
But remember, he wasn't drafted by the current Chargers regime. They also just brought back Mike Williams (6-4, 218) to fill the big receiver role, and they clearly trust Ladd McConkey, last year's rookie sensation, more.
If Jim Harbaugh is ready to move on, surely someone will see his size and skill and be willing to make a big bet on his potential.”
Related: NFL analyst's desperation label for Chargers is far too premature to be serious
The 2025 receiver class is said to be deep, which certainly works in the Chargers' favor if they want to replace Johnston with someone they feel has a more promising future. However, giving up on a third-year player seems a bit premature, and leaving Herbert with just Ladd McConkey, who is going into his second year, and Mike Williams, doesn't seem like a good idea.
Even if Johnston isn't living up to the hype he received from college, he still had a productive year in 2024, recording 55 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. That's a lot of work for the Chargers to abandon, and it seems premature to assume he can never be more than he's already shown.
On top of that, what they might receive in return would more than likely not be worth it. If they are already willing to move on from a 2023 first-rounder, there's no way any interested team would be offering anything close to what they drafted him for or what they'd need in return to find an even better replacement.
So is the potential harm to Herbert's game even worth it? No, it's not.