The Los Angeles Chargers have a tough route to the playoffs in 2025; the AFC West is ruled by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders continue to improve on both sides of the ball.
After making the playoffs in 2024 with an 11-6 record, the team lost in the AFC Wild Card to the Houston Texans and has not really made any significant splashes in Year 2 of coach Jim Harbaugh. While they have certainly gotten better than they ended the season with the draft and free agent acquisitions, the offensive line is still a concern. Luckily for the Chargers, a player in his prime is still available in free agency.
Chargers Predicted To Sign Former Second-Round Pick To Bolster Offensive Line
The Chargers’ offensive line struggled with injuries last season and finished 18th in PFSN’s OL+ metric. However, they had a solid tackle base in Rashawn Slater, who finished the regular season in the top 10 for run blocking, and Joe Alt, who was fourth in pass blocking.
Los Angeles’ sack rate of 7.9% ranked 22nd, while its pressure rate allowed (33.1%) ranked 12th. Justin Herbert was in the upper third of quarterbacks for holding the ball, but the Chargers need to improve their line before the 2025 season, especially at guard, with the currently projected starter, Zion Johnson, set to be a free agent next season.
Week two of OTA’s and not much has changed on the IOL front. Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman are rotating between LG and C. Trey Pipkins is the first OL off the bench, followed by Jamaree Salyer. Andre James is the backup C. (Via @Eric_L_Smith) pic.twitter.com/IVJzZBf2NM
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) June 3, 2025
Johnson has yet to establish himself as a capable starter, and PFSN’s Brandon Austin predicts the Chargers may sign Will Hernandez as his replacement.
“Zion Johnson is currently projected to start for the Chargers at left guard next season, but his future with the team is uncertain,” Austin wrote. “They declined Johnson’s fifth-year option despite selecting him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
“He hasn’t established himself as a starter-level NFL lineman, and this is a make-or-break season for him. Since he’s still a question mark, it would make sense to bring in a guy like Will Hernandez, who has been playing the best football of his career.
“Hernandez will be 30 when the new season begins, but he’s coming off his best season as a pro. After adding Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton to their backfield, the Chargers appear poised to deploy a ground-and-pound rushing attack under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. Adding a player with experience would be wise, and he’d likely come at an affordable price.”
Hernandez was the second-round pick of the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, and while he had a rough start to his career, the 29-year-old has steadily improved over the years. His 2024 campaign unfortunately got cut short due to injury after just five games, but during that stretch, he didn’t give up a single sack and allowed just a 5.1% pressure rate. He’s above average in pass protection and would be a solid rotational piece alongside Johnson in 2025.