Chargers WR Quentin Johnston’s ‘free’ admission will scare rest of AFC

The Los Angeles Chargers are feeling extra positive about their weapons on the outside coming into the 2026 season, and the emergence of Quentin Johnston plays a big part in that. After starting his career looking like a bust, Johnston established himself as a legitimate starter last season.

That has given LA plenty of optimism about their receiving core heading into 2026. The Chargers showed their faith in Johnston this offseason by picking up his fifth-year option before year four.

On Tuesday at mandatory minicamp, the former TCU star talked about how his mindset has changed since the Chargers picked up his option, via Kris Rhim of ESPN.

“I feel free,” Johnston said. “I’m just going to go out there free and play football.”

He later added that the move takes a lot of pressure off of him, per Rhim.

“Johnston said the decision removed pressure he’d been carrying through the first few years of his career and allows him to play more freely entering Year 4,” Rhim reported on X, formerly Twitter.

Even with this weight off of his shoulders, Johnston will still be playing for a lot next season. He is already extension eligible, but has not been given a new deal just yet. That’s understandable considering how his career started, as the Chargers clearly want to see the former first-rounder produce more before committing to him long-term.

If he can keep up his 2025 production, a contract extension would surely become a talking point next offseason. Johnston caught 51 passes for a career-high 735 yards and eight touchdowns in fourteen games. He became a deep threat for Justin Herbert, and LA will likely be trusting him to do that again in 2026.

Johnston will likely get even more chances to produce this fall with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel calling the shots. Greg Roman wasn’t the best at using his personnel to produce big plays, which is a skill that McDaniel excels at, so expect Johnston to have a much more prominent role in the offense this season. With less pressure on him, his growth should only be amplified.

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