Bolts From The Blue
The Los Angeles Chargers are going into the season with a lot of concern for their offensive line going into the future.
Rashawn Slater suffered a major season-ending injury, Joe Alt is moving from the right side to the left to replace him and Trey Pipkins is stepping in as well. The team also has an uncertain future with guard Zion Johnson, who had his fifth-year option declined by the team last year.
Bleacher Report writer Alex Ballentine believes Johnson should be a top priority for the Chargers to sign in free agency next offseason.
“The Chargers made it clear that re-signing Zion Johnson wasn’t an immediate priority this offseason. They declined his fifth-year option, making it possible he will become a free agent in 2026. It’s understandable, he hasn’t lived up to his billing as a first-round guard,” Ballentine wrote.
“That being said, he has the physical tools to be what the Chargers want at the position. If he can prove that in his second year under Jim Harbaugh then he will easily become the most important free agent for the Chargers to keep around.”
Johnson has been one of the team’s starting guards ever since he was taken with the No. 17 overall pick out of Boston College in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t lived up to standards.
The Chargers have already spent so much money with Slater becoming the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. However, his injury leads to some reasons for concern on the offensive line. The team is also going to have to prepare to pay Alt, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Either the Chargers will end up re-signing Johnson or the team could look to spend an early draft pick on an interior lineman in 2026.
