General manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh did a good job turning around the Los Angeles Chargers last season, from a five-win team to one that racked up 11 in 2024. Yet, once the Chargers reached the postseason, they got embarrassed, losing 32-12 to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Now the Chargers have to get creative as they look to make an already good team into a great one. We’ve already learned about one of their ideas.
Related: New WR Option Emerges For Los Angeles Chargers As Top Options Come Off The Board
Los Angeles Chargers plan to ‘experiment’ with Zion Johnson at center
According to Pro Football Focus, the Los Angeles Chargers finished with the 21st-ranked offensive line. They could have been a lot better, had left guard Zion Johnson performed better. The 17th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft graded 47th among 135 qualifying guards last season, and now the Chargers are planning to try something different with the struggling 25-year-old.
According to GM Joe Hortiz, the Chargers now plan to see if Johnson can handle his own as a center instead of a guard.
“Hortiz made news during his combine media session when he said the Chargers were going to experiment with Zion Johnson at center. Johnson was a guard in college. He played right guard as a rookie in 2022 before moving to left guard for the past two seasons. He has not played center at the college or pro levels, though he did take snaps at center during the Senior Bowl. This feels like a move out of necessity. In an ideal world, the Chargers could find a starting center upgrade externally this offseason. But they do not control the pool of players. The options are very, very limited in the draft and free agency.”
Chargers GM Joe Hortiz on Zion Johnson
If the plan is to experiment with Johnson at a new position, he’ll have all offseason to practice playing center and perfecting the snap. He’s entering his fourth season, which is the final year on his rookie contract. So if Johnson can’t figure out how to play center, he’ll just be leaving as a free agent next offseason anyway. In other words, it’s now or never.
Related: 2 Teams Emerge As Biggest Competition For Los Angeles Chargers Free Agent