As the Chargers revamp their roster for the upcoming season, part of the process could include trading players for compensation, such as additional draft picks.
A name that has been floated around is wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Recently, Bleacher Report identified Johnston as a potential trade target for the Eagles.
Right now, it’s low on the list of priorities, but if A.J. Brown is on the way out then it becomes a position that could be targeted. The Eagles would probably want to avoid targeting an expensive player, but Quentin Johnston could be fairly cheap entering the final year of his rookie contract.
The 2023 first-round pick showed improvement in his third season, posting solid numbers with 51 receptions for 735 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games. However, a couple of factors make a trade feasible for general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The Chargers must decide by May 1 whether to exercise Johnston’s fifth-year option for 2027, projected at around $17.5 million. That price isn’t steep, but they may feel it’s not worth it for a player who hasn’t quite shown he can be a consistent No. 1 or 2 receiver.
Furthermore, Hortiz and Harbaugh took on Johnston from the prior regime, so they lack personal ties and might prioritize their own homegrown talent.
The case for keeping Johnston is that he’s improved every season. And with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in the fold, Johnston could really hit his stride playing in his system and be used in a way that plays to his strengths, which is being utilized in open space.
This could serve as a “prove-it” year for Johnston to show he is worth another contract with Los Angeles or another team.
The bottom line is that unless the compensation includes a third-round pick, at the very least, the Chargers are better off with riding with Johnston in 2026 and they can determine what to do with him beyond the upcoming season.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Analyst says Eagles should call Chargers about potential trade
