The Los Angeles Chargers could have new starters at all three positions in the interior of their offensive line in 2026.
Center Bradley Bozeman and guard Mekhi Becton are major cut candidates, and guard Zion Johnson is set to become a free agent in March. Johnson has been a reliable starter for the Chargers over the past few years, but his game has inconsistencies.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently paired several soon-to-be free agents with teams he believes they would best fit with. He not only found a new team for Johnson, but gave the Chargers an intriguing player to replace him.
Los Angeles Chargers Named Best Fit for G David Edwards
Edwards was a fifth-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 NFL Draft. After a four-year stint with the Rams that included a Super Bowl win during the 2021 season, Edwards has spent the past three years with the Buffalo Bills. Here’s what Bowen had to say about Edwards potentially joining the Chargers:
“If Zion Johnson leaves L.A., Edwards could replace him. Edwards has played his best football as a pro over his past two seasons with the Bills. He has excellent movement traits at 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds, and his 95% pass block win rate in 2025 ranked 12th among 65 qualifying guards. That’s a positive for a Chargers team that allowed 60 sacks, tied for the second most in the league.”
Edwards has started 16 games each of the past two seasons. He is a well-rounded player who ranked in the top 25 among 81 guards in both pass and run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. Edwards is just 28 years old and could be a long-term solution for the Chargers at the left guard position.
Las Vegas Raiders Named Best Fit for Zion Johnson
As for Johnson, Bowen explained why he could excel with the AFC West division rival Raiders:
“The Raiders can upgrade their offensive line with Johnson. He’d play the left guard spot in Klint Kubiak’s system, using his mobility in the zone run game. Plus, Johnson’s youth and durability fit the rebuild in Las Vegas. He is just entering his prime playing years, with a 90.7% pass block win rate over his four-year career with the Chargers.”
Johnson has started 65 games during his four-year tenure in Los Angeles. The Chargers selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and declined his fifth-year option last offseason. Johnson has not lived up to his first-round draft status, but has been serviceable.
His value on the open market is a bit unknown. Being a former first-round pick and just 26 years old will play in his favor, but he won’t likely get high-end money. If he Johnson doesn’t get the deal he’s looking for, a return to the Chargers isn’t out of the question.
On the flip side, if Los Angeles can’t replace Johnson with an upgrade, that could also lead to him coming back. The Chargers have plenty of salary cap space to address their offensive line woes, but only have five picks in this April’s draft.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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