3 Chargers Immediately on Thin Ice to Begin 2025 Offseason

2. Quentin Johnston - WR

Ladd McConkey has already proven to be a fantastic draft pick, but his performance only made 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston look worse. While Johnston caught 55 passes for 711 yards and eight TDs, he failed to corral any of his five targets against the Texans with a pair of notable drops on key drives.

Johnston dropped seven passes during the regular season and his poor hands have been a major talking point during his first two campaigns. Considering how highly he was drafted, it's been a discouraging start to say the least.

Finding a way to improve the receiver group is among the most important priorities for the front office over the next few months. Johnston showed out with a career-high186 yards in Week 18, so he's clearly got the talent. Unfortunately, things haven't quite clicked in the biggest moments.

All four of those Wild Card targets ended drives, with three incomplete passes on third or fourth down and an interception. Justin Herbert did have a 109.7 passer rating when targeting Johnston during the regular season, yet it's hard to ignore that his struggles in the postseason helped cause the blowout.

Johnston still has at least two years left on his rookie deal. His improvement suggests he could still be a reliable option in the passing game, though it's obvious that Johnston will never be the true No. 1 wideout he was drafted to be.

If the Chargers find a better second option alongside McConkey, Johnston could become one of the more effective depth receivers in the league. That said, Los Angeles' offense won't reach its ceiling as long as he's commanding a significant target share.

This is a crucial offseason for Johnston and hopefully he improves his hands before the 2025 campaign rolls around.