The Los Angeles Chargers are absolutely circling the drain at 0-5, and now ESPN insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler are dropping bombs: wide receiver Quentin Johnston could be on the trade block this Fall. This isn’t just about a team struggling; their entire 2026 season is going horribly wrong, with Justin Herbert looking like a shell of his former self, countless injuries crippling the offense, and Mike McDaniel’s offense looking horrific so far.
The Chargers’ Season Has Hit Rock Bottom
Let’s be real, this Chargers team is a mess. Heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by a Week 7 bye, it wouldn’t shock anyone if they were sitting at a brutal 0-6 by the start of Week 8. That kind of collapse, this deep into the season, screams “sell-off” with the trade deadline just a few weeks after that. Everyone’s focus might be on Khalil Mack, and for good reason, but Fowler’s reporting points to Johnston as a surprising, yet very real, candidate to be moved.
Quentin Johnston: A Risky Bet They’re Ready to Cut Loose
Fowler spilled the tea, saying, “What about Quentin Johnston? The Chargers’ wideout has come up in a few of my recent conversations.” He noted that “The Bolts were firm in the offseason that they wouldn’t deal him, but now that Los Angeles is sitting at 0-5, perhaps the timing is right.” You can feel the desperation there, right? Johnston, a fourth-year receiver, has been a major disappointment, and he’s got an $18 million fifth-year option coming up for 2027. Trading him, even if it means only getting a fourth-round pick instead of a third, would make total sense for a team that desperately needs to retool, or even go into a full-blown rebuild. It would make even *more* sense if Tre’ Harris and Ladd McConkey are healthy enough to lead that receiver room. Graziano even pointed out that Johnston’s $18 million option, which feels like a huge problem, might not actually be a hangup because the dude is only 25 and “could benefit from a change of scenery.” Yeah, no kidding.
Chargers fans, brace yourselves. With the Chiefs up next in Week 6, then a bye, an 0-6 start before Week 8 seems all too real. That November trade deadline is looming large, and it looks like a full-blown fire sale is coming. Quentin Johnston is just the start of what could be a brutal few weeks for the Bolts faithful. Get ready for some major changes coming out of LA.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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