The 2025 NFL Draft is one month away, and Pro Football Focus believes the Los Angeles Chargers could trade first-round pick Zion Johnson for additional draft capital. Selected with the 17th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Boston College product never quite lived up to his first-round pedigree but has become a solid starter along the interior. Last year, the veteran finished the season with a 64.4 PFF grade, the 38th-best mark out of 77 eligible players.
Now entering the final year of his rookie contract (assuming Los Angeles doesn’t pick up his fifth-year option), the Chargers could cash out and maximize their return with a Zion Johnson trade. While he never became a star player in Los Angeles, several teams could give up a pick for a starting-caliber talent like Johnson.
“Los Angeles signed guard Mekhi Becton and center Andre James in free agency, while Bradley Bozeman and Trey Pipkins are each back in the fold. Johnson’s 62.5 PFF overall grade leads Chargers guards since 2023, but his fifth-year option will probably get declined – and a trade may ensue.”
PFF: Chargers Could Trade First-Round Pick Zion Johnson
Top Fits
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals secured the future of their offense with massive extensions for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and tight end Mike Gesicki. Now, it’s time to ensure Joe Burrow can get them the ball. The Bengals have one of the league’s worst collections of guards, and it’s the biggest flaw remaining on the offense. Zion Johnson won’t become an All-Pro if the Chargers trade him to Cincinnati, but he won’t need to be. As long as he can just be average, Burrow should have enough time to connect with his elite offensive weapons.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is back for another season, which means the Saints must do something about their offensive line. Carr is an adequate quarterback, but he’s one of the worst in the league against pressure. First-year head coach Kellen Moore wants to show the world what he can do with full control of a team, and the NFC South is one of the weakest divisions in football. Zion Johnson can help fix one of the worst offensive lines in football and keep Carr upright and healthy for a full 17-game season.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots spent big on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, but they haven’t done much to make life easier for franchise quarterback Drake Maye. While veteran Morgan Moses is a massive upgrade at right tackle, the left side of the line needs some help. Former first-round pick Cole Strange has been a disappointment when healthy and missed most of the previous season to injury. Perhaps head coach Mike Vrabel believes he can still be a starter, but this team should invest in a more proven option with a Zion Johnson trade.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens struggled to find two starting-caliber guards last year, and that search will be all the more difficult in 2025 with Patrick Mekari in Jacksonville. Johnson would be a clear upgrade on Andrew Vorhees or Daniel Faalele, but would the Chargers ever trade a player like Zion Johnson to one of the top teams in their conference? Only time will tell, but Baltimore would likely need to outbid the competition for the Chargers to even consider such a move.
Main Photo: Robert Hanashiro – Imagn Images
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