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Charger’s 2023 First Round Draft Pick: WR Quentin Johnston

Updated: May 15, 2023


The Chargers have a fascination for size at the wide receiver position. Keenan Allen is 6’2. Mike Williams is 6’4. Josh Palmer and Jalen Guyton are both is 6’1. Each of these players add a special element to the wide receiver core, but none of them really boast dynamic run after the catch ability. Now the Chargers add Quintin Johnston at 6’3, but Johnston is not the typical big body receiver. He has more finesse to his game than his size would suggest.


Physical Metrics

Johnston ran a 4.52 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine, sufficient to get behind defenses and be a threat in the deep part of the field. His vertical (40.5) and broad jumps (1102) ranked in the upper 95th percentile. His 9.63” hands are considered above average (69th percentile) but his 33.63” arms are exceptionally long! (90th percentile). At 208 pounds, Johnston checks all the measurable boxes physically in a draft class that lacked size at the position.


Statistics

2020 - 22 Rec | 487 yards | 2 TDs

2021 - 33 Rec | 634 yards | 6 TDs

2022 - 60 Rec | 1069 yards | 6 TDs


Film Analysis

On film, Johnston uses a blend of his size, strength, and speed to be a threat. He ran lots of under routes like curls and drags, in addition to the deeper streaks and posts. Over 80% of Johnston’s snaps came from outside, and he projects to be a true X wide receiver. TCU trusted Johnston in quick passing concepts to allow Johnston to get the ball in space and become a threat as a runner. He finished the season with 532 yards after the catch, which ranked 8th-most in the NCAA.


As a deep ball specialist, Johnson has exceptional tracking ability, and he can contort to make really special grabs. He was forced to adjust to poorly thrown deep balls far too often, something that he will not have to do with Justin Herbert much. Johnson is a long strider who will maintain distance once he gets a step of separation. He has the size and leaping ability to beat most defenders to win at the catch point, though he doesn't always use it to his advantage. Many of his highlights are tracking the ball into his body rather than high pointing and out muscling defenders.


One of the major issues in Johnston tape is the drops and contested catch metrics. Johnston was credited with 8 total drops, and caught 8 contested catches on 23 targets. That 34% contested catch percentage is something to worry about when smaller wide receivers like Josh Downs, Jayden Reed, and Zay Flowers are all above 50%. Big wide receivers are expected to box out defenders to make tough grabs, something outside wide receivers are expected to do on a regular basis, and Johnston didn’t do so in either of the two previous seasons.


Part of the contested catch issues is that Johnston doesn’t really attack the football in the air. He fails to consistently high point the football, opting to track the ball over his shoulder instead. His quarterback did him no favors, so maybe some of the contested issues do not fall on him solely, but it is an area of his game that he needs to refine at the next level. The drop issues are due to concentration, where Johnston looks to run before securing the football into his frame.


Expectations


Johnston may not be a true threat in his first season with the Chargers. He projects to be the fourth wide receiver in rotation currently with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer receiving the lion’s share of targets. In some situations, he could actually fall to fifth when certain concepts require the speed of Jalen Guyton to open passing lanes in the middle of the field. With Allen and Williams enormous cap hits next season, and Guyton hitting free agency, there is more room to see Johnston play a significant role next year.


Projected Stats:

40 Rec | 512 yards | 4 TDs

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