{"id":852441,"date":"2026-04-04T02:06:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T02:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/852441\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T02:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T02:06:39","slug":"familiar-offensive-lineman-linked-to-needy-chargers-in-latest-nfl-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/852441\/","title":{"rendered":"Familiar Offensive Lineman Linked to Needy Chargers in Latest NFL Mock Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s been a lot of emphasis this offseason on the Los Angeles Chargers\u2019<\/a> offensive line and with very good reason. Pro Football Focus ranked it the third-worst unit in the league in 2025<\/a>, with substantial injuries to left tackle Rashawn Slater and right tackle Joe Alt (pressed into duty at Slater’s spot) a huge reason for its struggles. <\/p>\n

\"Joe<\/p>\n

Nov 2, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt (76) gets carted off against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The team was also hampered by poor interior play, and the three main starters are no longer with the organization. Center Bradley Bozeman retired,<\/a> and former first-round draft choice Zion Johnson is now a member of the Cleveland Browns. Finally, 2025 free-agent disappointment Mekhi Becton is currently looking for a new team after he was released by the Bolts.<\/p>\n

Guard Olaivavega Ioane has been a popular pick for the Bolts\"Vega<\/p>\n

Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane (OL30) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

For lack of a better word, noted college football writer Bruce Feldman of The Athletic <\/a>went \u201cchalk\u201d when it came to the Bolts\u2019 first-round selection. Penn State interior blocker Olaivavega Ioane has been a name often mocked to the Chargers.<\/a> Of course, it\u2019s also a pick that makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo NFL head coach loves physicality like Jim Harbaugh,\u201d said Feldman, \u201cand with guards Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton gone, the Chargers sorely need help in the trenches. The 6\u20194\u201d, 320-pound Penn Stater who everyone calls \u201cVega\u201d should be a good fit. <\/a>He\u2019s a pure guard and is in the road-grader mode. He got himself in better shape in 2025 and showed a lot of improvement. According to PFF, Ioane didn\u2019t allow a single sack or QB hit in 311 pass blocking snaps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penn State blocker could upgrade the Chargers\u2019 ground game\"Vega<\/p>\n

Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane (71) celebrates with running back Quinton Martin after the freshman scored a touchdown during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 27-0. | Dan Rainville \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n

There was also this from NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein<\/a>. \u201cPrototypical guard for physical run schemes with thick limbs, a broad frame and plus core strength. Ioane plays with excellent contact balance and technique on both base blocks and double teams. He uses his hips and hands for leverage and displacement when drive blocking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zierlein added this. \u201cHowever, he lacks athleticism and foot quickness to operate effectively as a move blocker. He pass sets with good posture and a firm punch and can anchor against power. Though quicker at a lighter weight in 2025, he will struggle with twitchy interior defenders who cross his face in the run game and attack his edges in protection. Despite scheme dependence, Ioane projects as an early starter<\/a> with a high floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olaivavega Ioane draws high praise from a collegiate coach\"Olaivavega<\/p>\n

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Feldman also referenced this opinion. \u201cHe grew on me,\u201d said a Big Ten D-line coach who faced Ioane in each of the past two seasons. \u201cHe\u2019s your typical right guard in the NFL and I think he\u2019ll have a good career. He is athletic. In that (Penn State under then-OC Andy Kotelnicki) system, it\u2019s hard to project their guard with all their unbalanced formations and motioning guys and motioning him sometimes. He\u2019ll fit in a pro-style\/gap-scheme offense but he\u2019s versatile enough to play in a West Coast, outside zone scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s been a lot of emphasis this offseason on the Los Angeles Chargers\u2019 offensive line and with very…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":852442,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2064],"tags":[241,7,1014,262,2444,2443,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-852441","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-chargers","8":"tag-chargers","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-los-angeles","11":"tag-los-angeles-chargers","12":"tag-losangeles","13":"tag-losangeleschargers","14":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116343997081295628","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/852442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}