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Lindsey ThiryESPN
Close Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
Previously covered the Falcons
Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers commanded attention at the outset of the offseason.
They acquired All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second-round pick this year and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Then the Bolts signed Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson to a whopping five-year, $82.5 million contract in free agency.
But a star-studded streak of activity came to a halt on the opening night of the NFL draft when the Chargers used their first-round pick, No. 17 overall, to select a guard.
“Guards are people too, right?” Tom Telesco asked, grinning, in a rhetorical question following the opening round of his 10th NFL draft as Chargers general manager.
After making the high-profile initial offseason moves to improve a defense that ranked No. 29 in the NFL last season and allowed an average of 27 points per game, the Chargers selected Boston College guard Zion Johnson with their first pick in the draft, prioritizing protection for third-year quarterback Justin Herbert and a need to keep their offense moving.
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“I know it’s not the sexiest pick in the world, but he’s tough, he’s durable, he’s smart,” Telesco said about Johnson, who is anticipated to step in immediately at right guard. “We have some excellent skill players, both at receiver, tight end, also at running back and with Justin Herbert.
“Obviously, these guys cannot do their jobs without a rock-solid offensive line. As much as this pick is to protect our quarterback, which is a big part of it, this is also to facilitate everybody else. It’s pass protection, it’s run…
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