NFL
2022 NFL Draft: Grades for Zion Johnson and Every Other Los Angeles Chargers Pick
Adam Fromal joined the Endgame360 team in 2021 and works primarily with the Sports7 team. He comes with a wealth of sports writing knowledge, building on a career that started in 2010, and with editing experience dating back to 2016. Adam enjoys covering all facets of the sports industry but has a particular love for basketball and the NBA. He grew up with that as a favorite and made it a career when he covered the NBA for almost a decade as a writer for Bleacher Report. During that time, he covered Denver Nuggets games and ran his own analytics website called NBA Math (a venture that he continues today). Throughout his tenure as an editor, Adam has a few other claims to fame: He helped to provide quality control for the Emmy-nominated "Game of Zones" web series at Bleacher Report and worked as a fact-checker for The Ringer's Mirin Fader on her debut book, Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP. Adam earned his bachelor's degrees from the University of Georgia in Classical Culture, Latin, and Psychology.
Get to know Adam Fromal betterUpdated02 May 2022
The Los Angeles Chargers have the most important position in sports locked up with Justin Herbert taking snaps and throwing darts all over the field, but that doesn’t mean they were devoid of needs heading into the 2022 NFL Draft.
Even after handing JC Jackson a massive contract in free agency, LA could have stood to add another top-tier cornerback to its secondary. Strengthening the offensive line to give Herbert enough time on his dropbacks is never a bad idea. Springing for help on the interior of the defensive line — or at the next level with added depth at linebacker — wouldn’t have been a foolish notion, either.
The Chargers entered the draft as a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl, and that trophy chase begins in earnest now.
2022 NFL Draft picks by Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 17 Overall: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
- No. 79 Overall: JT Woods, S, Baylor
- No. 123 Overall: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
- No. 160 Overall: Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
- No. 195 Overall: Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia
- No. 214 Overall: Ja'Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
- No. 236 Overall: Deane Leonard, CB, Ole Miss
- No. 260 Overall: Zander Horvath, FB, Purdue
No. 17 Overall: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Chargers know that protecting Justin Herbert is all that matters — a bit hyperbolic, sure — and they committed to doing exactly that with Zion Johnson, even if they reached a bit to add him to their offensive line. It's a clear need pick, but Johnson at least brings experience at every position along the line and the explosion and driving power to move all sorts of defenders back onto their heels.
Grade: B-
No. 79 Overall: JT Woods, S, Baylor
If the Chargers are relying on JT Woods to make tackles in the open field, they'll be disappointed. If they can lean on him as a ball-hawking playmaker who can use his speed and ability to read the quarterback to force turnovers, they'll be thrilled.
Grade: C+
Day 3 Picks
No. 123 Overall: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
l like the value here with Isaiah Spiller as he probably could have gone in the third round, but running back really wasn't something the Chargers needed to prioritize. He still gives LA a potent 1-2 punch with Austin Ekeler.
Grade: B
No. 160 Overall: Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
It took a little longer than expected for the Chargers to address their horrendous run defense, but they've gotten themselves a good value in UCLA's Otito Ogbonnia.
Grade: B+
No. 195 Overall: Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia
Seriously, how many Bulldogs are going to go in this draft? Salyer was actually one we expected to go a little earlier, maybe even as early as late in the third round or early in the fourth. The Chargers getting him here is nothing but good news.
Grade: A-
No. 214 Overall: Ja'Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
You can't have too many cornerbacks in general, and that rings especially true in the AFC West. Ja'Sir Taylor is a decent pick in this spot.
Grade: B-
No. 236 Overall: Deane Leonard, CB, Ole Miss
See the statement above? That rings true for Deane Leonard, as well. The Ole Miss product ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day.
Grade: B-
No. 260 Overall: Zander Horvath, FB, Purdue
At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Horvath is a big back who could carry some of the running load while also serving as a nice blocker for Ekeler.
Grade: B-
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