The Chargers haven’t spent the offseason ripping up their offense and starting over. Instead, they’ve added a couple of pieces in Keaton Mitchell and David Njoku and are betting that a new voice at the top can push the unit into a different tier.
That voice belongs to Mike McDaniel, and the idea is simple enough: if he gets this group rolling, Los Angeles could end up with one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. But that outcome depends on more than just the scheme. It also hinges on a player who has yet to fully deliver on his promise.
ESPN’s Ben Solak pointed to Quentin Johnston as one of the biggest swing factors for the Chargers in 2026. In Solak’s view, Johnston taking a real step forward would be the kind of development that makes the entire offense a nightmare to game plan for.
“The McDaniel offense is among the league's best at creating YAC for speedy athletes, and Johnston will benefit from those targets over the middle," Solak writes. "... If Johnston delivers this year, the Chargers will put secondaries in an impossible bind."
That’s the crux of it. Johnston’s NFL career has been uneven so far, particularly when it comes to his downfield production. But this setup gives him a real chance to change the story.
Justin Herbert is already one of the league’s top passers, and McDaniel has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s sharpest play-callers and designers. Put those two together, and Johnston becomes a potential key to unlocking what this offense can really be.
The Chargers will need the deep-ball connection to Johnston to become more reliable in 2026 if they want the unit to reach that next level. When that happens, the rest of the offense can start to look overwhelming.
Ladd McConkey gives them a strong No. 1 receiver, and there are other useful pieces around him. The offensive line, especially at left guard, matters too.
Still, Solak’s point is clear: the biggest question hanging over the Chargers’ offensive ceiling is Johnston. He doesn’t have to pile up 1,000 yards, but he does need a breakout season and the kind of field-stretching presence the team has been waiting for over the last three years.
In Other News...
Chargers Backup QB Question Just Revived A Familiar Harbaugh Connection
With Justin Herbert entrenched as the starter, the Chargers backup quarterback situation has become a quieter but still meaningful part of the conversation around the roster. Trey Lance sits on the active roster, DJ Uiagalelei is on the practice squad, and the early-season chatter has already drifted toward whether Los Angeles could look outside the building for a more long-term answer behind Herbert.
That speculation has even revived a familiar Harbaugh connection, with Bleacher Reports Kristopher Knox floating Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy as a possible trade target. For now, though, it remains just that, a theory rather than a transaction, and the Chargers are left with a depth chart that could still draw attention if the right opportunity ever presents itself. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Havent Settled Tuli Tuipulotu Situation As Opener Nears
As the Chargers get ready for their 2026 opener against the Arizona Cardinals, the calendar is already narrowing on a few lingering roster questions. The starting left guard job still needs to be settled, the fourth cornerback spot remains unsettled, and now edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu has joined the list of unresolved items after the team and his representatives have not yet reached a contract extension.
Tuipulotu is slated to play the 2026 season on the final year of his rookie deal, which puts some urgency on a conversation that has already stretched into the offseason. Recent edge-rusher market movement has helped shape the talks, along with comparisons to other players at the position, but for now the Chargers are still sorting through where Tuipulotu fits in their long-term plans as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Faces One Big Test In The Chargers New Offense
Installing a new offense is usually the kind of offseason project that asks for patience, repetition and a lot of trust, and the Chargers are leaning on all three as they reshape the system around Justin Herbert. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is counting on quarterbacks coach Shane Day to help smooth the transition, with Day's previous familiarity with Herbert giving the staff a useful shortcut as it works through the details of the new scheme. Day, back for a second stint with the team, is wearing two hats as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, a setup that should help speed Herbert's adjustment.
Around the building, there is plenty of confidence that Herbert will handle the challenge. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey said he believes Herbert can excel in the new offense, a sentiment that fits the general optimism around a quarterback whose talent has never been in question. The larger test now is how quickly Herbert and the staff can turn that familiarity into comfort, and then comfort into something that looks fully functional once the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]