Quentin Johnston robbed the Chargers blind in 2023
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft there were two likely scenarios that seemed plausible with the 21st overall pick. The Chargers were either going to cash in on the deepest tight end class in recent memory and take someone like Dalton Kincaid, or the Chargers were going to add an offensive weapon in another way and take a wide receiver.
There were two names that were tied to the Chargers the most at WR prior to the draft. Many fans wanted the Chargers to take Zay Flowers, who we tabbed here at Bolt Beat as the best receiver to take at 21. However, the most plausible receiver was Jordan Addison because Chargers WR coach Chris Beatty was Addison's recruiter at Pitt.
Ultimately, the Chargers went with neither and took the most polarizing first-round receiver prospect, Quentin Johnston. Johnston was very obviously the biggest boom-or-bust receiver in the first round and it is safe to say that he has busted after his rookie year.
Johnston still has time to turn it around and you cannot call his entire career a bust to this point. To be fair to the rookie, the Chargers have used him like he is Mike Williams just because he is tall. In reality, Johnston is a six-four YAC receiver who should be catching the ball near the line of scrimmage.
But either way, it is impossible to like what fans have seen out of Johnston. If he does not work on his hands and continues to give up on routes the way he has this season then he will never work in the NFL, regardless of how he is used.
Johnston robbed the Chargers of an impactful first-round pick in 2023. With so many offensive injuries, having that impactful first-rounder would have made a huge difference.