The dust has finally settled from the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Los Angeles Chargers came away with a nice haul headlined by running back Omarion Hampton.
With the draft in the rearview mirror, the Chargers can now look towards the season while also making minor tweaks to the roster.
One big decision the team had to make was regarding whether or not they were going to pick up the 5th-year option of former first-round pick Zion Johnson.
It was announced that the Chargers will be declining his option, and Johnson will play out his 4th season as the final year of his current rookie deal.
#Chargers did not exercise OL Zion Johnson's fifth-year option, per source.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) May 2, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers Decline Zion Johnson’s 5th-Year Option
For those who do not know, the 5th-year option is a team option to lock in 1st round selections at a fixed rate in their 5th season. If the team declines it, then the player will enter free agency after the 4th season, unless a long-term extension is agreed upon.
According to Over The Cap, Johnson’s 5th-year salary would have been roughly $17,560,000. This number would have put him Top 5 among all left guards.
Also Read: Los Angeles Chargers Add Huge 18-Member UDFA Class, Including Intriguing QB Prospect
Johnson has had a fairly up-and-down three seasons in the NFL so far. The expectations were high after the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the first round, and it is safe to say he hasn’t lived up to those expectations yet.
This past season, he posted a 64.4 overall grade, 62.4 pass blocking grade, and allowed 37 total pressures, including 4 against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, according to PFF. He allowed 7 sacks, 2 of them being in the playoff game.
An extension is still certainly in play as Johnson will have this year to prove he is a worthwhile investment for the Bolts.