Saints Swing Blockbuster Trade Proposal for Chargers Former First-Rounder Quentin Johnston

The New Orleans Saints are eyeing a major upgrade at wide receiver this offseason, and a proposed trade with the Los Angeles Chargers could address their most glaring need. According to a proposal from FOX Sports Ralph Vacciano, the Saints would send a 2026 third-round pick (73rd overall) and a 2027 conditional sixth-round pick to the Chargers in exchange for former first-round wideout Quentin Johnston.

New head coach Kellen Moore enters his second season with a clear vision for the offense. After evaluating Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough throughout last season, Moore handed the starting job to Shough in Week 9. The second-year quarterback responded with promise, going 5-4 as a starter including a four-game winning streak against Tampa Bay, Carolina, the New York Jets, and Tennessee before a narrow 19-17 loss to Atlanta in the finale. Shough finished with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 91.3 quarterback rating while adding 186 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

Moore has wasted no time surrounding his young quarterback with talent. The Saints signed running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal to pair with Alvin Kamara, giving New Orleans one of the most dangerous backfield duos in the league. They also secured guard David Edwards on a four-year, $61 million contract to solidify an offensive line that had been a weakness, and added tight end Noah Fant as another target in the passing game.

Still, the receiver room beside Chris Olave has been a hole since Rasheed Shaheed was traded to Seattle. Johnston, selected 21st overall in the 2023 draft, arrived with sky-high expectations but has settled into a complementary role with the Chargers, posting back-to-back seasons of over 700 receiving yards with at least eight touchdowns in each campaign. At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, he would give Shough a big, physical target on the opposite flank from Olave and instantly transform the Saints passing attack.

The Chargers, now under Jim Harbaugh, have shown willingness to move on from players who do not fit their vision. Johnston was drafted by a previous regime and has not developed into the dominant No. 1 receiver Los Angeles hoped for, though his size and touchdown production make him an intriguing fit for what Moore is building in New Orleans. A third-round pick would be a relatively modest asking price for a player of Johnston's physical profile and red-zone upside.