In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers ended a five-year drought of not selecting a wide receiver in Round 1, taking TCU’s Quentin Johnston 21st overall.
Now, as the second wideout selected in the draft class, plus with longtime leading target Keenan Allen finishing second in receptions among the Charger receivers, is now the time for the TCU Horned Frog to step up as WR1 immediately for the Bolts?
Quentin Johnston Confident Before the Draft He Could Be a Lead NFL WR
Even before going No. 21 overall, Johnston gave this four-word answer at his March 30 Pro Day when asked if he’s the No. 1 WR for the 2023 class.
“Yes sir, for sure,” he said, via CBS Sports.
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He then added, “I’m a 6’3″, 6’4″ receiver that is able to create real separation at the top of my routes in and out of my breaks, and my yards after catch is top tier.” He also mentioned the Big 12 records he holds — one of them being his 22.1 yards-per-catch average his freshman year, the highest by a true freshman.
Johnston may be walking into a receiving room with the decorated five-time Pro Bowler Allen and 2017 first-rounder Mike Williams. However, last season was the first Allen didn’t lead the Bolts in catches in consecutive seasons.
For the first time since the Chargers’ final season in San Diego in 2016, Allen wasn’t the leading wideout in the WR room, as Josh Palmer led all LAC receivers with 72 grabs. The drafting of Johnston and the decline in production from Allen will get fans pointing to the belief the towering Horned Frog is the future incumbent for the title of WR1.
Offensive Coordinator Shocked Johnston Fell to Chargers
Even Kellen Moore is raving about the newest Chargers addition, sharing how shocked he was that Johnston fall to them.
Speaking with reporters following the draft, Moore first liked the fact that head coach Brandon Staley addressed Moore’s side of the ball right away.
“Brandon [Staley] is this defensive guy, and he’s drafting these offensive guys, I like this,” Moore explained. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Then he dove into the first draft pick for the Bolts, saying, “Q [Johnston] really stood out for us as we went through the process. Everyone kind of sees the measurables, the size as far as the height and the weight. What he did for TCU from his versatility, I thought, was really, really special.”
Moore then gave a detailed explanation of what caught his attention in scrutinizing Johnston’s game.
“His ability to kind of catch-and-run, he was a fly-sweep guy … he got the ball in a lot of different ways,” Moore explained. “You saw a lot of versatility in his game that maybe, initially, someone may not have necessarily anticipated. We were really excited that he was there and available for us.”
How Johnston Can Impact Chargers Offense, Justin Herbert Moving Forward
Allen is still a reliable target and the tone-setter for the WR group in how to attack through their routes. But, to reiterate, falling below 70 catches and being in his 30s both point to the beginning of a potential decline — which can help further explain the Johnston selection.
Size-wise, Johnston is already a walking mismatch for opposing defensive backs. Yet, Johnston only delivered one 1,000-yard season in college, racking up 1,069 yards and six touchdowns on 60 receptions during TCU’s 2022 run to the national title game.
While those numbers don’t point to statistical dominance, PFN’s Ian Cummings summed up Johnston with this description: He’s athleticism over analytics.
Johnston is bringing a long-strider running element to the Bolts. He additionally comes with subtle lateral movements in slipping by cornerbacks. But what could get Bolt fans fawning over Johnston is his run-after-catch explosion, as defenses must prepare for long gains or six points after he breaks the first tackle.
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The Fiesta Bowl win over Michigan is a prime example of that RAC prowess. Yards-after-catch plays were noticeably absent in several Chargers games last season.
Johnston is additionally one who throws out fear when it comes to contested grabs — as seen here vs. Oklahoma State with an oncoming field collision. There were some noticeable drops, though, caught on film by the Chargers’ brass. Moore, however, said that isn’t a concern.
“Everyone is going to want things they can improve on once they go into the NFL. Certainly, he had a couple of drops statistically if you get detailed into that. But he made some spectacular plays,” Moore said. “I think he’s going to be just fine. It wasn’t a big concern for us.”
The last Big 12 receiver to thrive through Moore was former Oklahoma Sooner CeeDee Lamb, who became a back-to-back Pro Bowler with him on the sidelines. Johnston gives the Bolts added height as a receiver with Williams … and one who may not take long to become the top target for Justin Herbert.
