However, here's my counterpoint according to Pro Football Focus, they say Quentin Johnston STINKS at run blocking.
"Harbaugh trust in Johnson’s run-blocking skills is concerning for Johnston, whose 228 run-blocking snaps ineffectively led the 2023 wide receiver corps. Among 64 NFL wide receivers to log at least 630 offensive snaps, Johnston’s 52.7 PFF run-blocking grade ranks 40th. The second-year player cannot afford to be taken off the field in run-heavy personnel packages as his access to play-action passing opportunities would also shrink. "
If being a bad run blocker is going to hurt Palmer in your eyes, then that should transitively pass onto your opinion of Quentin Johnston, otherwise it can appear is if you're picking and choosing when you want certain metrics to matter. Especially when comparing two players playing the same position on the same team. I don't have a PFF subscription, so I can't tell you what Josh Palmer's run blocking stats were relative to Quentin, but the assertion would be that Harbaugh has two bad blocking WR as his primary WR1/WR2, which would indicate they are either better than we think at run blocking or that Harbaugh plans on airing it out more than we think. Unless Jim Harbaugh won a National Championship and turned into a doofus overnight.
Per PFF, here is the run blocking data from 2023 for the non-rookie players currently on the 53 man roster:
- Johnston - 52.7 run blocking grade on 228 run blocking snaps
- Palmer - 51.1 run blocking grade on 155 run blocking snaps
- Chark - 49.5 run blocking grade on 250 run blocking snaps
- Davis - 43.0 run blocking grade on 56 run blocking snaps
- Fehoko - 40.8 run blocking grade on 13 run blocking snaps
Really small sample size for Davis and, especially, Fehoko.
None of these guys were graded well at run blocking, but Johnston did get the best grade, and he was also asked to block a lot more than the other WRs on this list except Chark, which is a positive sign. Also worth noting that Johnston was a rookie, whereas Palmer was in his 3rd season and Chark was in his 6th... it seems reasonable to believe Johnston can still improve, whereas Palmer and Chark are closer to finished products as run blockers.
FWIW, Johnston's average PFF run blocking grade in college was about 61.9 on 726 run blocking snaps.
I definitely think the current Chargers coaching staff will emphasize WR run blocking more than the previous staff, so some players will presumably improve based on that emphasis. Johnston vs. Palmer:
- Johnston has been a better run blocker than Palmer
- Johnston is younger, and thus may have more potential to improve
- Johnston is slightly bigger and tested with a higher RAS, both of which could help him in comparison to Palmer
- Johnston was #6 on the Chargers in run blocking snaps in 2023, and all 5 players with more run blocking snaps were OL
Now add to that to the other things I posted previously:
- Johnston will be given every chance to succeed by the Chargers this season -- he has a contract that is guaranteed through the 2026 season, and he was a first round pick for good reasons. He might fail, but he will have opportunity.
- This Chargers coaching staff and front office is not tied to Palmer, and he is a UFA after 2024, so it seems most likely that he is not part of the Chargers future beyond 2024. So no reason to really try to make him a focal point.
I am a Chargers fan. I've watched every snap Palmer and Johnston have played for the Chargers. Johnston was disappointing last season, but he's not done yet.
And, as relates to Palmer, it's not just about Johnston alone. The Chargers had Palmer and Johnston, then drafted 3 WRs and signed Chark. Unless driven by injuries, they are likely to spread a lot of targets around their WR group.