Chargers GM Breaks Silence on Quentin Johnston Rumors With Blunt Admission
About a week before the 2026 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers face ongoing trade rumors about wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
General manager Joe Hortiz has quickly stepped in to silence the talk, but flat-out shut down the notion that the organization is actively looking to move the former 2023 first-round pick.
“There’s a lot of rumors out there on Twitter,” Hortiz said via ESPN. “And I can tell you this, I have made zero calls about Quentin, and I’ve had zero calls regarding Quentin.”
The trade discussion stems from the Chargers’ pending contract situation with Johnston, who has a fifth-year option worth $18.1 million that the team has until May 1 to exercise. Los Angeles has yet to make a decision on whether they will pick up the final year of his rookie contract.
Since joining the Chargers, Johnston hasn’t produced up to the level expected from a first-round selection. In his first three seasons, he has failed to eclipse 60 catches or more than 750 receiving yards in any campaign.
The TCU product has recorded back-to-back campaigns with eight receiving touchdowns, but his overall production doesn’t match that of a No. 1 passing game option that his draft status projected him to fulfill.
Want $250 to bet on the NFL?
Los Angeles had hoped that the 2025 season would see him take that next step in his development, especially with the return of Keenan Allen, but his overall production remained substandard.
The Chargers are now faced with a crucial contract decision that will either show their trust and confidence in Johnston or a lack of belief that he will become the No. 1 passing game option.
