a year ago Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick Quentin Johnston has been a disappointment.

Jim Harbaugh also seems to have helped change that.

As a rookie, Johnston arrived with high expectations, finding connecting in an offense with Justin Herbert under center projects to be one of the nicer situations for a rookie to find himself. But over 17 games, the TCU product has caught just 38 of his 67 targets for 431 yards and two scores.

Through eight games in 2024? Johnston hit 22 of his 37 targets for 354 yards and six scores. His yards-per-catch average is up nearly five yards, and his six scores rank fourth in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and George Kittle.

Johnston breaking out like this is exactly what the Chargers needed after the team parted ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams last offseason. And the wildest part? He doesn’t even lead the team in receiving, not even with second-round rookie Ladd McConkey emerging as a breakout with 43 catches for 615 yards and four scores.

That’s probably one of the few reasons the Chargers stayed still at the NFL trade deadline, despite the fact that the offense needed to provide more help to Herbert seemed obvious.

While the Chargers are underwhelming contenders right now, Johnston-McConkey appears to be a one-two punch of the future for Herbert as well.

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