Perhaps no rookie receiver in the 2023 draft class found themselves in a more enviable position than Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Johnston has both one of the league’s best young quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, his collegiate signal caller Max Duggan, and a fellow receiver Derius Davis from his alma mater on the roster with him.
Still, nothing is guaranteed and, yet unproven, Johnston will have to prove the team right for drafting him with a first-round pick in April. Nonetheless, early indications of his success are positive, with Herbert heaping praise on Johnston.
“He’s a playmaker. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us,” Herbert told the media. “He showed up and we knew early that we got a special guy out there. He’s done a great job of picking up the offense so far. He’s young, but he’s going to be something special. It’s been fun to watch him so far.”
While he will be stuck behind veterans Mike Williams and Keenan Allen on Los Angeles’ depth chart, Johnston is sure to make his presence felt in training camp and the preseason as he acclimates to life in the NFL.
Johnston should provide a spark to Los Angeles’ offense early in the 2023 season as he is a deep threat with the speed to stretch the field and can outpace defenders in the open field with great explosiveness, wiggle and strength.
With some rest and preparation over the next month of dead time during the last stage of the offseason, Johnston could position himself to be Herbert’s top target when the regular season starts in September.