Banking on a Quentin Johnston Breakout is Risky | Do the Chargers Want to Trade Back From 5?

Great expectations come from being a first-round pick and Quentin Johnston found that out the hard way as a rookie. Many in the new regime are hoping to see a leap in year two and he has all of the ability to do it, but he is going to have to improve a ton to make a major impact in this offense. Dan and David Buy or Sell the biggest Chargers storylines and overreactions including if the team would rather trade back than take a wide receiver with the 5th pick. The team has to add a lot of talent after moving on from Pro Bowlers Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler, but can this roster still be better than it was in 2023? The guys also get into if they think the Chargers could have a 1000-yard season and how many draft picks they think Los Angeles will eventually end up with. If they are going to get extra picks from an AFC West rival like the Raiders or Broncos, the price will be steep.
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[@smh0825]

I can’t even think about QJ without remembering we could’ve drafted Flowers OR Addison instead

[@171juwan]

I didn’t even see a mock draft that had us taking Quentin Johnston I honestly thought JA or Flowers was our pick smh

[@jeffreywilliams7553]

He’s going to be associated with them for his entire career only because they were drafted right after him and they all play the same position

[@KodyAllenEstep]

My daily routine is all out of whack without you bros 😅 the draft can’t get here soon enough! ⚡️⬆️

[@rickpeterson8825]

Definitely! Bolt TF Up!!

[@thomascostello5780]

Hi Gents, great coverage from Boltland Dan and Dave had a good guest in your absence. With that said here is my opinion on our WR room. QJ had an unimpressive rookie season and he's not a Harbaugh guy. 2 strikes - if he doesn't produce this year he's gone. We're not picking at #5!! I know fans want to see Justin airing it out to an elite receiver but they can't see or don't understand the Harbaugh way of playing football. Between the draft and FA this regime will sign corners, trenches (including our new center), TE, LB(s), RB, safety and 2 possession receivers. A running game will actually lengthen Justin's career. I don't see how fans don't get it that he needs to be protected --- especially after all his injuries these last few seasons.

[@ambermchugh9381]

I don't get it either. Bottom line this team isn't a fancy WR away from being a winning team. Picking the low hanging fruit is a telesco move. Joe hortiz is way tricksier and will get the most out of this rare draft opportunity.

[@goodie5283]

Thankyou for my dads shoutout lmao you guys are amazing

[@moepaknia1]

With the last year's horrible coaching, we actually cant make any prediction how good or bad last year's rookies!! WR Johnston or OLB Tuli. It's ALL wait and see now. They all might perform Much Better

[@VBNate]

Tuli proved he is a stud... Im all in on him, and one of the few Chargers that fought every game. Q - well, we will see.

[@moepaknia1]

@@VBNate that is exactly my point. We don’t know how good even Tuli is with previous coaching. So any of our last year’s rookies can be much better or not. So I’m not going to judge with last year’s coaching, until Harbaugh and his team work with them.

[@ambermchugh9381]

Agreed 100xs worst season in my memory and I can't imagine trying to acclimate a rookie year in that shitshow. I'm giving him a do over. But will be the first to call BUST if he still sucks

[@wildcat4837]

He had his chances to proof himself when Mike William was injury during Vikings game out for the season. Put him in 3rd WR or depth. We see enough of him! Just draft a WR at No5 pick and pick up another one at later round please!!!

[@brianhenry7983]

Nope, that's a Tom Telesco move, they need to trade down

[@diegoreds]

QJ Should be working out 5 days a week! Prove He’s not a Bust ! -Blocking on Run play -Playbook & New Routes - Downfield Shadow blocking for other WR with ball - Catching, (not with body) - Quick Explosion Screen & Reverses?

[@wildcat4837]

7 days a week 12hours a day catching the ball!

[@CALIEN7K]

Its not just about QJ. It's the whole Harbaugh system. Wide receiver isn't going to be the focus of our offense. Running the ball is going to be pur bread and butter. He won't be called on to do what Keenan was doing. He doesn't need to be a top 10 receiver. He just needs to catch the balls that come his way with some consistency.

[@DiegoDL7997]

💯, I feel like some Chargers podcasters really don't know who our coach is and his philosophy on football. They're obsessed with the Chargers taking a WR a #5. Looking at you, GAC.

[@CALIEN7K]

@DiegoDL7997 I wouldn't complain about getting a WR but it just doesn't fit Harbaugh. I think He's going to try and trade back and get bowers and another first round pick our of it.

[@rickpeterson8825]

Good show guys! I disagree about QJ though! Not saying he's gonna go all crazy! But there's a lot that went into why his season was less than impressive, he can only control his areas of improvement! The fact Moore was not very good and Staley was so bad he is like Candyman with Chargers fans, we don't say his name here anymore!!

[@rickpeterson8825]

I get QJ jad a damned rough rookie season, but he does have the ability to make catches and create YAC, with short crossers and curl routes! Moore and Staley did a terrible job of coaching him up! Secondly, they used him terribly

[@williamcarey8994]

For the last month i was hoping for a 5th pick WR but about a week ago i caught a show that was talking about the chargers and the 'Twenty' quality players they are going to need to start rebuilding the team. I am convinced that they are going to trade up for a couple of one's and a two. ☮

[@ambermchugh9381]

Yes! If only we were one amazing WR away from playoff contention

[@charleshamilton4529]

This is a deep WR class. As a Charger fan we are so used to bad picks we are stuck with the mindset of drafting bad. Harbaugh and Hortiz will get it right but I do want Marvin Harrison Jr. I believe he is that generational talent. But if they trade out I am confident they will still get a very good WR. And please get a RB please....

[@ambermchugh9381]

The Michigan staff knows these college guys better than most so I trust their judgment emphatically

[@joffyjoffa]

Man gotta learn how to catch the damn ball first I mean BACK TO BACK TO BACK open passes dropped, LAZY ROUTES and not fighting for the ball ESPECIALLY in traffic. He had the same problem in college. I'm just not expecting much HOPE AND PRAY IM DEAD WRONG. How is it that he is at the pro level and he's STILL trying to learn how to catch? That's like teaching a professional swimmer to swim. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@AnilChandy-qo5mo]

@joffy joffa qj is a huge question mark, this is why I have been saying we need 2 wrs in this draft and this class is deep. I honestly don't mind drafting nabers and adani Mitchell 1st and 2nd round. We also need to sign a veteran to fill the room. We only have 1 functional wr in the room which is Palmer.

[@joffyjoffa]

@@AnilChandy-qo5mo I hear you bro. You can't just let those caliber of receivers walk and go pick up scraps. Herbert might ask for a damn trade or something 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@drewbiegolf]

Nothing I’ve ever seen from QJ tells me he’s going to be amazing next year. Not in College, not last year. I don’t see it in this guy

[@kevincurnick]

The most disappointing thing is, You would have thought we would see a bunch of off-season workout videos and him working on his craft. Smh but all we heard was a quote leading up to the super bowl "I'm due for a break out" 🤦 nothing is due it's earned. I will be very surprised if he ever lives up to his draft cost 🤷

[@rickpeterson8825]

​@kevincurnick You're taking that outta context when people say, "I'm due for...." and referring to something where it's effort based, they're acknowledging they disappointed people and need to do better!!

[@rickpeterson8825]

Buy some f'n glasses, you act like he wasn't good in college, he was, that's why he was a 1st round pick! He absolutely was disappointing but so are you as a Chargers fan! ,so if you can do better , so can QJ!

[@kevincurnick]

@@rickpeterson8825 you ok bro? Why are you getting aggressive and blatantly putting yourself out there for a football player that was obviously over drafted🤦🤷 Glasses you say? And wtf should anyone be watching with said glasses? QJ's TCU film????🤦 Try to Be a better human ⚡

[@freedomtrucker2332]

If QJ does have a breakout ..it would solve a LOT of roster problems ..

[@PsychItsMike]

Reminds me of MVS but over drafted so the expectations are much higher.

[@psychoticdropshots4165]

funnily if nfl scouts should stop looking for just height.. its now. most however not all of the productive recievers last season were under 6'0 (tank dell before injury, zay flowers, josh downs, jayden reed, demario douglas).. majority of unproductive/quiet receivers were over 6'0 (quentin johnston, cedric tillman, jonathan mingo, jalin hyatt). not to mention the chargers couldve drafted flowers but chose quentin

[@vancesmith1896]

Don't forget the 20-22 Guys We Get as UDFAS. 90 Man Roster is Going to have some Talent.

[@eddieb7001]

You might as well buy in just go look at Mike Williams rookie year. Give it a shot 😂😂😂

[@kevincurnick]

You can't compare their rookie seasons. Mike Williams was injured and he was never thrust into the amount of snaps and action that QJ was. Qj definitely wasn't used properly, however The shortcomings in his game were extremely blatantly evident. He's got a lot of work to do to just become a reliable wide receiver and just catch the football 🤷

[@eddieb7001]

@@kevincurnick I disagree. Mike was only out a month so that’s four games he did get better from his back injury during camp He did make it on the field in October, so he had ample time to do way more than he did go look at his stats. You can compare them because they were rookies, they both had issues and my whole point is they will bounce back and become better over time. You can’t name on both hands out of 32 teams receivers as rookies that were spectacular in the last 10 years. Puka Nacua, Justin Jefferson , Ja’Marr Chase, Odell Beckham, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle are the only ones I can think of.

[@kevincurnick]

@@eddieb7001 you literally proved my point. Mike Williams was not on the field. He was buried in the depth and was late getting on the field after missing camp. So yeah he "got better". he didn't have a full season of terrible film like QJ did. Not comparable bruh

[@eddieb7001]

@@kevincurnick Mike not being on the field it’s just like QJ not being used properly.

[@kevincurnick]

@@eddieb7001 So you have faith in QJ because Mike Williams turned out to be a good WR after his first year. But we are just going to ignore the bad 2023 tape? Ok that makes sense, gotcha

[@Electric_Funeral]

I’m lobbying for a trade back for 11 and 23, then a trade back up from 11 to 8 with Atlanta and take Rome Odounze (i think it can happen with our 3rd). Then we can get a RT at 23. Trade down in the 2nd and snag a 3rd to replace the one we gave up, and take Sainristil. If we could double dip at CB and also get Khyree Jackson that would be an amazing draft⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@ambermchugh9381]

Rome is my favorite WR in this draft. Love Mike Sanristril too. Love this scenarios

[@Electric_Funeral]

@@ambermchugh9381 me too, I don’t want to spend the 5th on him but if i had a gun to my head I’d take Odounze before both MHJ and Nabers. Would be nice to trade down and still get him

[@PatriarchyPatrol]

Based Chad

[@ambermchugh9381]

OMFG you're so right Norv Turner took over and drove that team into the ground. So so bad

[@richardpcrowe]

It really hurt that QJ was only mediocre at best during his first season! How do you coach a WR into learning how to catch the ball.

[@user-tr5le4uv3j]

I think we're going to end up with 11 picks 🤔...

[@ambermchugh9381]

From your mouth to the football gods ears.

[@napoleonmadrid9320]

I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t see Quinton Johnston making any improvement unless he learns how to CATCH DA BALL!

[@blainethompson6510]

I hope he does have a breakout season but having a plan in place due to the depth of the WR draft this year many will be on the outside looking in and finding that gem that skeme fit or locker fit didn’t get a chance to play needs to be addressed. Our WR room is light. Only having two places to hurst and Palmer go to makes it easy for the defense to scheme and they will stack the crap out of the box. 8 and 9 man boxes. We need another weapon. I will say the WR group is sooo deep that third rounders are legit first rounders in many other years.

[@marshallnmoonshine]

He needs to get opportunities and he needs to catch balls. Balanced with a run game and Herbert having time in the pocket, I think that changes everything for QJ. All he has to do is catch the goddam ball.

[@kevincurnick]

I mean he's got to learn how to release properly, he's got to work on his footwork, and he's got to work on deception with that footwork at the top of his route... Oh yeah and then catch the ball

[@marshallnmoonshine]

@@kevincurnick agreed. I’m just being hopeful. I wanted Flowers and was bummed when they took QJ, but that being said, they’re NFL coaches and I’m off to my HVAC job. Here’s what I’m banking on…. We’ve judged him under his performance with last year’s coaching staff, in addition to it being his rookie year. I’m gonna wash that year off his record and see what he does under this staff. If he doesn’t hugely improve this year, I wouldn’t keep him past his rookie contract.

[@brianhenry7983]

These guys probbaly loved how tom Telesco drafted. Short sighted distracted by shinny objects

[@sumwhatsolo3691]

I don’t care what QJs numbers are. If he is a WR 3 I just want to see him do well enough to take advantage of his opportunities as a WR3. But if they roll out with Palmer and QJ, I trust them with the rest of the scheme they are planning to put in place. Palmer especially, is not being talked about enough for the opportunity he has this year

[@ambermchugh9381]

He has come in clutch several times. Very interested to see how he does next year

[@kencratsenberg2937]

Why change anything on your special teams seeing where they finished as a unit?

[@PagalaFamily]

They hardly used him at all. He was primarily used as a decoy to open up the side of a field. He hardly got any snaps being the #1 read. When they actually have certain plays for him then he does pretty well. Gotta put down the highlights and watch the videos of him in every route. Sometimes he drops it, sometimes catches it. Sometimes he gets separation and sometimes he doesnt. He’s open sometimes but he isnt the main read so the ball doesnt get to him. Most of his #1 reads are short wr screens which none really ever panned out to more than 7-8 yards. A veteran is needed in that WR room. I think 2 WRs in the draft is needed. Get one high, then get one later. If its MHJ at 5, then maybe a quick slot WR which are scattered everywhere in the draft.

[@user-tr5le4uv3j]

Hortiz & Harbaugh could trade back & take O.C.& R.T.. Then trsde back again in 2nd rd... we need a lot of picks to get this roster built w/depth (injuries WILL happen) Whatever they choose to do, I have to trust their judgment in player personnel ... Let the coaches coach ... Can't wait to see this new roster kick some ass this year. B.T.F.U.

[@ambermchugh9381]

Lol dan failed David for like 6 words then proceeds to unleash like 40 words

[@christianfuentes1138]

Been a bolt fan since 2004 never seen a bigger bust In the NFL

[@kevincurnick]

Lol he's not quite Kevin White but he could be 🤷

[@ambermchugh9381]

Oh there's way worse. The biggest bust in NFL history is definitely Ryan effing leaf

[@markscott4830]

Have to mow the lawn to get rid of the snakes.

[@rickpeterson8825]

We're not gonna take Alt, if we stay at 5!

[@nuwunative928]

Need oline 1st round

[@stillmidwestrapz7820]

He did not look like a professional last year. If he makes a jump this year it would only get him to bad.

[@PatriarchyPatrol]

MikeWill was worse & he was 24yrs old, #7 overall --QJ was 22yrs old, #21 overall

[@AshS85]

Kellen Moore is a mystery, a weak OC that keeps failing everywhere he goes. I'd bet QJ is better than everyone thinks. Ppl just parroting Steve Smith's talking points from pre draft.

[@kevincurnick]

Bruh what? 🤦

[@tonycasarrubia1394]

If you can’t catch, get open and run the route you are not an NFL receiver. Good luck but this guy doesn’t look the part.

[@Jcota86]

⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@bruso8082]

He also needs to block or kick rocks

[@jeffbounds7025]

If QJ can block, he has value as 3rd receiver.

[@kevincurnick]

🤣

[@ckobo84]

But he can't block, ...or is unwilling to.

[@jeffbounds7025]

@@ckobo84 That's my fear stud

[@12killshot]

Who else is upgrading their season tickets today? BTFU

[@donwrinkles717]

3️⃣3️⃣rd comment 🩶🦾🤖 GO BOLTS!!! 🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩