The Los Angeles Chargers had quite the busy offseason. The team added several new stars to the powder blues in edge Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson, while also extending the contract of star wide receiver Mike Williams. What does not get as much attention, though, is their 2022 NFL Draft class. The Chargers’ draft picks, though not flashy, will make an impact early on. Here are three Chargers rookies that can make a day-one impact.
Zion Johnson
Zion Johnson was the Chargers’ first-round pick, drafted specifically to fill a team need. A big-body guard out of Boston College, Johnson seems like the right pick to bolster the right side of the offensive line. Johnson will be an immediate starter at the right guard spot opposite Matt Feiler. Out of all the Bolts’ rookies, Johnson seems by far the most poised to become an impactful player.
So what does Johnson bring to the table? Probably the biggest plus that Johnson brings to the table is his intelligence. Johnson has the type of intellect that translates well to the NFL. That will help him in understanding blocking schemes and with savvy blocking techniques. On top of that, Johnson has noticeable brute strength and athleticism, which can benefit both run and pass blocking. His athleticism in particular should help him pick up second-level assignments on run plays, and his strength would allow him to bully those linebackers. With skills like those, Johnson seems like a perfect addition to this offensive line.
J.T. Woods
J.T. Woods was the Chargers’ third-round pick, drafted specifically on his latent potential. A speedy safety out of Baylor, Woods may not be an immediate starter in that loaded Chargers’ secondary. However, he can (and likely will) make an impact on day one, even if he doesn’t start. Sitting behind starting free safety Nasir Adderley means that he will constantly be in a position to potentially start. Even if he doesn’t start, his presence will push Adderley to produce, in order to protect his starting spot.
As mentioned before, Woods’s greatest asset is his track-star speed. With a 4.36 40-yard dash, Woods’ cover radius is wider than many other safeties. Add on his sticky hands to that, and Woods shapes up to be a serious ballhawk, exactly what is needed from a free safety. The major knock on Woods is his iffy tackling ability. He has this tendency to try and go for highlight-reel tackles too often, rather than relying on the fundamentals to make more efficient tackles. If he can work that out, he may actually end up taking Adderley’s job.
Isaiah Spiller
Isaiah Spiller was the Chargers’ fourth-round pick, drafted both for running back depth and as a potential complement to starter Austin Ekeler. A running back out of Texas A&M, Spiller was viewed as being one of the top running back prospects in the 2022 class. Spiller may not start, simply because Ekeler is so valuable to the offense, but Spiller provides offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi with a lot of options. Lombardi spent much of his career with the New Orleans Saints, where they found success running a 2-back committee with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Ekeler already plays a very similar game to Kamara, and Spiller’s skills provide Lombardi with an Ingram-like player.
Spiller’s biggest strength is his athleticism and cutting ability. Spiller when getting the ball in his hands is shifty, and he breaks tackles with ease. This is also in part due to his good balance, which makes him all the harder to bring down. Another valuable part of his game is his ability to shift between passive and aggressive running when needed. Pacing is an underrated skill in running backs; purely aggressive running backs tend to not wait for blocking schemes to pan out, and passive running backs tend to hesitate and attack the hole when it opens. Spiller shows that he can switch between passive and aggressive running on a dime. While he does provide solid receiving skills to the table, he would best be served getting more reps as a runner.
Summary
While all of the Chargers’ draft picks and undrafted free agents provide value to the team, most of them admittedly seem set up to be either special teams talent or to fill depth. However, these three rookies are in the best situation to become impactful pieces of the team from the beginning of summer camp. General manager Tom Telesco did a great job with this draft, particularly with these three picks. These are the three Chargers rookies that can make a Day One impact.
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