The Los Angeles Chargers Could Be Set With Their Offensive Line

The Los Angeles Chargers landed two studs at the guard position in the 2022 NFL Draft, with a plan potentially in place at right tackle.

The Los Angeles Chargers were thought to potentially take Trevor Penning with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but they passed, instead opting for the better player in Boston College guard Zion Johnson. Johnson gives the Chargers an elite guard to play next to Rashawn Slater, and lock down the left side to protect Justin Herbert.

Then, the Chargers waited until day three to address the offensive line again, selecting Georgia’s Jamaree Salyer. He tumbled for some reason late into day three, getting selected after teammate Justin Shaffer.

Johnson gives the Chargers some positional flexibility in a pinch (he took some snaps at center down in Mobile), but he’s got the grip strength, anchor, and power to stand tall at the point of attack and rarely give up ground. His quicks, ability to get down the line, seal, and create openings in the run game is impressive as well. It won’t be shocking at all if Johnson is one of the top 10 players in the class when we look back in a few years.

Salyer is another with positional flexibility. He played tackle at Georgia, but should also succeed at either of the guard spots. His power is impressive and he has a finisher’s attitude.

The question remaining on this was with the Los Angeles Chargers getting protection on the interior for Herbert, who starts at right tackle? Well, there is an easy answer. It’s Matt Feiler who will likely move over there. Feiler played both guard and tackle in his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers in five seasons, and he would likely be the best fit moving over there.

A line of Slater, Johnson, Corey Linsley, Salyer, and Feiler gives the Chargers the best line they’ve had in a long time, and it’s just in time as they move into a contending window.