As the starting left guard for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Zion Johnson was viewed as the weak link among the offensive line.
Opposing teams knew to target him on pass rush packages due to his inability to pick up stunts, magnifying an already subpar interior line.
Los Angeles Chargers Position Switch Experiment
During draft weekend, general manager Joe Hortiz outlined his plan to have Zion Johnson to tryout at center, noting that he had already started working at the position by that point in the offseason.
So far, Johnson has been rotating in with last year’s starting center, Bradley Bozeman, in practices, allowing the coaching staff to get an idea of what he’s like at the position.
Areas Of Concern
With him playing the position for the first time, barring a short stint in the Senior Bowl during his draft process, he has had major growing pains. Throughout training camp, he’s had multiple false starts and botched snaps, including one where he snapped the ball over Trey Lance’s head.
Another point of emphasis is his lack of snaps in padded practice. His lack of experience means he needs as many snaps as possible at the position, especially live reps with pads on.
The Chargers have had three padded practices so far, yet Johnson has only been involved in one of them. If the coaching staff were committed to giving him a true evaluation for the position switch, they would allow him to receive the most opportunities.
Emergence of Jamaree Salyer
In their most recent padded practice, backup guard Jamaree Salyer was seen working in with the first team at left guard, while Bradley Bozeman was at center. Salyer has put in the work this offseason, losing 35 lbs, completely reshaping his body after losing his starting job last season.
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With this development, it pushes Zion Johnson down to the second team center. This isn’t the trajectory one of Harbaugh’s “Elite 10” players should be on, giving a clear indication of how they think he’s transition has been going.
Hall Of Fame Game
Talent isn’t a question for Zion Johnson. From an athletic and mental standpoint, Johnson has all the tools to succeed. Entering the league, he posted a 9.73 relative athletic score (RAS) and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in computer science as well as a master’s degree in cybersecurity policy and governance.
Johnson’s biggest test, however, will come this week in the Hall of Fame game that kicks off the 2025 preseason slate.
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Jim Harbaugh stated in his press conference that they plan to have Zion Johnson start at center and play a couple of drives. If he performs well and shows out on tape, then the conversation to experiment with him at center may continue. On the other hand, if he has a poor showing, he needs to begin competing for the starting left guard spot instead.
Johnson has always had a high ceiling as a player. His ability as a run blocker has always been his strong suit, though his erratic play as a pass blocker, particularly dissecting stunts and twists, has kept his floor stagnant.
Hopefully, Johnson can win a starting job at one of the spots; otherwise, it could spell an end to his Chargers tenure after the 2025 season.