“When the 25-year-old was drafted 21st overall by the Chargers in 2023, he was expected to anchor the passing attack for years to come,” Davenport wrote. “Instead, he has struggled with consistency, has yet to reach 750 receiving yards in a season and has seven catches this year.”

Davenport noted that the Chiefs would be the best spot for Johnston, even though he put the chances of a trade as slim.

“To be clear, this is exceedingly unlikely,” Davenport wrote. “The Chiefs aren’t dropping $16.5 million next year on Johnston, and the Chargers would be reluctant to trade him to an AFC West rival.”

Still, Johnston would be a clear fit for a Chiefs team that is shorthanded in the wide receiver room.

“But Johnston would fill a clear need for the team,” Davenport wrote. “He’s a one-for-one replacement for the injured Tyquan Thornton: a vertical threat who could occasionally take the top off opposing defenses.”

Chiefs Down Another Wide Receiver This Week

With Thornton out for several months after suffering a dislocated ankle, the Chiefs have more injury concerns on top wide receiver Rashee Rice. As ESPN reporter Nate Taylor noted, the team has already ruled Rice out for this weekend’s game against the Chargers after he missed three practices this week.

“Rice sustained his injury in Week 4 during the Chiefs’ comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders,” Taylor wrote. “In the first quarter of the game, Rice caught a 7-yard reception but stumbled and pulled up while trying to gain yards after the catch, ending the play by going out of bounds.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hinted that Rice could return for another critical game, next week’s tilt against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

“He’s out there and wanting to jump in on everything,” Reid said. “He’ll be all right. You never know about these [hamstring injuries], but he’s a pretty fast healer.”