Chargers draft Boston College OG Zion Johnson in first round
The Chargers identify another potential cornerstone piece for their offensive line with a player who they believe is tough, durable and smart
By Gilbert Manzano
INGLEWOOD — Many expected the Chargers to find their next right tackle in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, but they addressed their other offensive line need on Thursday.
The Chargers drafted former Boston College offensive guard Zion Johnson with the 17th overall pick. Many draft experts rated the 6-foot-2, 312-pound Johnson as the best interior offensive lineman in this year’s class.
“Guards are people, too,” Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. “I know it’s not the sexiest pick in the world, but he’s tough, he’s durable and he’s smart.”
Johnson will fill the Chargers’ vacancy at right guard, according to Telesco. The Chargers view Johnson as a polished guard who is ready to start now and that played a role in why the team passed on other highly-rated prospects at other positions of need, such as offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver.
“If he does what we think he can do, he’s going to play 900 to 1,000 snaps for us in his rookie year,” Telesco said. “We’ll see in training camp, but I don’t think it should be a big learning curve for him.”
The Chargers passed on other positional needs to continue the construction of their offensive line and keep star quarterback Justin Herbert upright and assist their abundance of skill players. Johnson will join last year’s building blocks of left guard Matt Feiler, center Corey Linsley and left tackle Rashawn Slater, who the Chargers drafted with the 13th overall pick last spring.
“It was so unexpected,” said Johnson, who attended the draft in Las Vegas. “I was mid-conversation when I got the call. I’m just so excited to be in L.A. for the first time and to see all the coaches and meet all of my teammates.”
Johnson is the first offensive guard the Chargers have ever taken in the first round, and this is also the first time the franchise has taken offensive linemen in back-to-back years in the first round.
The Chargers still have uncertainty at right tackle after cutting veteran Bryan Bulaga in March, but Telesco said he would be comfortable starting Storm Norton or Trey Pipkins at right tackle if the season started tomorrow. Telesco and Chargers coach Brandon Staley have mentioned the possibility of moving Feiler to right tackle, but Telesco said the current plan is to keep Feiler at left guard and plug Johnson at right guard.
“I’ve played guard the most, so I think, yes, there is definitely a level of comfortability there,” said Johnson, a first-team All-ACC honoree after starting 11 games at left guard in his fifth-year senior season. “I think I can excel at any of the positions on the offensive line.”
Johnson, a Bowie, Maryland, native, didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school and said he was primarily a golfer before that. Johnson was a no-star recruit and decided to start his collegiate career at Davidson, a non-scholarship FCS program.
Johnson transferred to Boston College on a scholarship for his final three seasons. He moved to left tackle in 2020 because of injuries and struggled at the position, but Johnson said facing the best edge rushers in the ACC prepared him for playing left guard last season.
“I went to Davidson and really, it was just having to overcome a lot of things on my way to Boston College,” said Johnson, who’s getting his master’s degree in cyber security. “I think, really, when I got there, I got a perspective where I thought the NFL was an achievable goal. I’m just so glad to be here now and thankful to all of the people who helped me along the way.”
www.ocregister.com/2022/04/28/chargers-draft-boston-college-og-zion-johnson-in-first-round
