Los Angeles also needs to build depth at the position since Allen is going into his 11th season and missed seven of the first nine games last season with a hamstring injury. General manager Tom Telesco and Staley were looking for someone who can stretch the field or generate mismatches for explosive pass plays. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Johnston joins a talented Chargers receiving room that already has Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. He averaged 22.1 yards per catch in 2020, the highest by a true freshman in Big 12 history among players with at least 20 receptions. Over his three seasons at TCU, Johnston had 115 catches for 2,190 yards and 14 touchdowns along with nine 100-yard games. Staley also referenced Johnston's performance in the Big 12 championship game, when he had four receptions for 139 yards. Johnston was named the offensive MVP of that game. Staley said he watched almost all of the Fiesta Bowl, when Johnston had six catches for 163 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown as the Horned Frogs beat Michigan in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Staley's interest in Johnston started before the combine. After watching the film, they said that they were sold,” Johnston said. “They told me that I impressed them in the first interview that they had with me at the combine.

He had 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns last season as TCU went from unranked at the beginning of the season to the national title game, which it lost to Georgia. Johnston led the Horned Frogs in receiving the last three years. Johnston provides another weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert as the Bolts look to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

Catch Me If You Can by L.B. Gregg