https://theathletic.com/4449320/2023/04/27/quentin-johnston-draft-los-angeles-chargers/

Chargers draft Quentin Johnston: WR gives Justin Herbert needed big-play
threat

By Daniel Popper
19m ago

The Chargers selected TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston with the 21st
overall pick, adding a weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert and new
offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco needed to add
some firepower to their receiver room, and Johnston fits that mold. He
did not have blazing testing speed, as he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at his
pro day. But as our draft expert Dane Brugler writes in his scouting
report, Johnston “has a pull-away gear once he can stretch out his long
strides.” He can also make an impact as a yards-after-the-catch threat,
particularly with his size at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds.

Big board ranking

Johnston was the 34th overall player on Brugler’s big board. The
Chargers had plenty of options at pick No. 21, including Georgia edge
rusher Nolan Smith, Alabama defensive back Brian Branch, Notre Dame
tight end Michael Mayer, Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, USC receiver
Jordan Addison and Boston College receiver Zay Flowers. They went with
Johnston, who, according to Brugler, has an “outstanding
size/speed/strength blend.”

Introduction

Johnston is an impressive athlete who caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards
in 2022 for the Horned Frogs. He has an 81.625-inch wingspan (96th
percentile for receivers, according to MockDraftable) and posted a
134-inch broad jump (97th percentile) and 40.5-inch vertical (93rd
percentile.) He checks a lot of the boxes Telesco likes in a receiver.
He is big. He is long. He is a ball-winner in the deep part of the
field. He was a team captain in 2022, and scouts described him as
“humble” and “genuine” to Brugler. Telesco prioritizes high-character
individuals.

How he fits

Johnston has experience playing both inside and outside, and that
flexibility is something the Chargers are often looking for in a
receiver. Keenan Allen can do both. Josh Palmer, who Staley and Telesco
drafted in 2021, can do both, as well. Brugler specifically mentioned
Johnston’s ability to separate on post routes and create after the catch
with his long strides. Johnston ranked No. 2 in FBS in yards-after-catch
per reception (8.9). Those two areas are where he should have the most
impact in Year 1. The Chargers were lacking in both those phases last
year as Mike Williams and Allen missed considerable time. Chargers
receivers ranked 16th in yards-after-catch per reception in 2022,
according to TruMedia.

Rookie impact

There are some knocks on Johnston. He can be prone to drops (eight last
season and 13 in three college seasons). And, as Brugler writes,
Johnston “ran a streamlined route tree and lacks stem polish.” Both
those traits are usually big drawbacks for the Chargers. But it is clear
with this pick that they were determined to add an explosive element to
the receiver room. Johnston has that, even if he did not test that well
in the straight-line 40. The Chargers value play speed on film over the
testing numbers.

Depth-chart impact

The positive for Johnston is that he will not be forced to take on a
huge role in Year 1. Allen, Williams and Palmer are ahead of him on the
depth chart and enter the season as the starting trio. The Chargers also
re-signed Jalen Guyton, and Johnston will be competing with him for
playing time. He should have some time to develop and work on those
flaws, particularly his route-running while working with one of the best
route-runners in the league in Allen. Johnston said he did not have any
game experience as a kick or punt returner while at TCU, so we will have
to wait and see if he is a factor in that phase.

Fast evaluation

Johnston is an exceptional athlete, and he should bring some juice to
the Chargers’ passing offense. But once again the Chargers passed on
top-end speed at receiver, something they have been lacking for years.
Could they have traded back and still gotten Johnston? We’ll never know
the answer to that hypothetical. The Ravens took Flowers at pick No. 22,
and the Vikings took Addison at pick No. 23. So the Chargers started a
run on receivers. Still, it seemed like a good opportunity to move back
and pick up another top-100 pick while maintaining a shot at a number of
quality players at several positions of need. Overall, adding weapons
for Herbert is always going to be a great strategy. So I have a hard
time knocking the pick too severely, even if I have those questions. If
Johnston can provide some big-play ability, both deep and after the
catch, he will be a great fit in Moore’s offense.