The Los Angeles Chargers have a number of decisions to make this offseason. They will need to hire a new offensive coordinator after firing Greg Roman. With Jesse Minter's departure looming, it is likely they will be searching for a new defensive coordinator as well.
They have just under $110 million in cap space to distribute, and there are upgrades needed on the offensive and defensive lines. There are also a number of integral players that will need to be re-signed.
Quentin Johnston has somewhat gotten lost in the excitement of this shuffle.
After a productive start to the season in 2025, Johnston disappeared for much of the campaign, only to have a startling resurgence in the last two games of the regular season. Now, the Chargers must decide what they want to do about his fifth-year option this offseason, which would keep him in Los Angeles through 2027.
General manager Joe Hortiz's comments at a press conference on Thursday bode well for his future:
GM Joe Hortiz on picking up Quentin Johnston's fifth-year option:
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) January 15, 2026
"We haven't had talks about that yet. Again, it's early, but I'll say this: I love Q and the growth he's made. The development he's made from year one to year three has been awesome to see. I'm a big fan of Q's."
Quentin Johnston still has much to prove in terms of consistency, but he's grown exponentially in his time with the Chargers
Since Johnston came into league as a first-round pick in 2021, he's been one of the Chargers' most polarizing players. His tall frame and downfield skill-set are tantalizing features, but he's had drops in big games that have, at times, turned the fanbase against him.
2025 served as an opportunity for him to turn that narrative around. He succeeded only partially.
From a pure statistical perspective, Johnston had the best season of his career. He amassed 51 receptions, 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 targets. Yet, when you peer deeper, there is still ample cause for concern.
In Weeks 1 through 4, Johnston garnered 22 receptions and 337 yards on 36 targets. It looked as though he was in line for the breakout season everyone had been waiting for.
Then, over his next eight games, he disappeared from the offense almost entirely. He had snaps taken away by Tre' Harris, and he amassed just 35 targets and 196 yards during that span.
Yet he exploded again in his final two games of the season, totaling nine receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans.
The Chargers have a serious question to answer this offseason. What version of Johnston will they get moving forward?
While he is an exciting contested catch threat and has improved his ability to hang onto the ball, he still struggles to gain separation and can be pushed out of the offensive game-plan as a result.
According to Over the Cap, Johnston's fifth-year option would sit around $17.5 million.
Despite whatever fans might think about that value, it is clear that Hortiz has been impressed with what Johnston has accomplished since his rookie season. There's reason to believe the team will pick up his fifth-year option unless commitments in free agency force them to decide otherwise.