Jets Insider Name-Drops 2023 First-Rounder to Fix WR Room

It has been said over and over this offseason that the New York Jets need at least one more explosive wide receiver to add to the room with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.

Wilson was the Jets' leading receiver in 2025, which wouldn't have shocked anyone if you surveyed anyone across the league before the season. But, he played just seven games. That's the variable that really shouldn't be the case. Wilson had 395 yards in seven games. In reality, the vast majority of that production came from five games of work. He had just 13 total yards in his final two games of the season as he wasn't at full strength. The fact that no receiver — or any pass-catcher for that matter — was able to pass Wilson throughout the 2025 season is shocking and can't be the case in 2026.

Maybe Mitchell will end up giving the Jets something on offense in 2026. He was explosive after the Jets acquired him, but he had some issues with drops. But the Jets need a dependable option to come in and carry some of the load just in case injuries do pop up again. While discussing the wide receiver position, ESPN's Rich Cimini told Jets fans not to "sleep on the possibility" of New York acquiring a new playmaker through the trade market. He name-dropped a handful of options and one that stood out is Los Angeles Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston.

The Jets should call the Chargers ASAP

Dec 27, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) reacts after making a 60-yard reception against the Houston Texans during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

"Wide view: With free agency and trades, [Darren Mougey] has addressed almost every positional need, with one notable exception: wide receiver. Rest assured, he has a plan," Cimini wrote. "He has four of the top 44 picks in the draft, which isn't top-heavy with elite talent but runs deep. ...

"Don't sleep on the possibility of Mougey trading for a veteran. It's already been an active offseason for wide receiver trades, and you're talking about a GM who has made 12 player trades in a little over a year. Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars), Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens), Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers) and Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers) have been mentioned as trade possibilities."

Johnston would be a low-key addition with massive upside. He's just 24 years old and has two seasons of control left. He's under contract for the 2026 season with a cap hit just over $4.5 million and then has a fifth-year option on his deal estimated to be worth just over $16 million after being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnston is a big-bodied receiver who is a big play waiting to happen. He had 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. In 2024, he had 55 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. That's the type of production this Jets offense desperately needs. Plus, the fact that the Jets could have two seasons of team control doesn't hurt either.