The Chargers need to fix their interior line fast. With Zion Johnson gone, Olaivavega Ioane offers a plug-and-play solution at guard—elite in pass protection and possibly available at No. 22. It’s a move that could protect Justin Herbert immediately.
If there’s one thing the Chargers should have learned from last season, it’s that you can’t build a contender while your quarterback is constantly under siege. Even with franchise tackles expected to return healthy, the interior offensive line remains a glaring weakness—and that’s exactly why drafting Olaivavega Ioane at No. 22 should be the move.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Chargers lost Zion Johnson in free agency, leaving a major hole at guard. That’s not just a depth issue—that’s a foundational problem for an offense built around Justin Herbert. Replacing Johnson with a stopgap veteran isn’t enough. This team needs a long-term, high-level solution, and Ioane fits that mold perfectly.
What makes Ioane so appealing is how polished he already is. He’s not one of those “project” interior linemen that needs two years to develop. This is a plug-and-play guard with elite pass protection skills—something the Chargers desperately need after finishing near the bottom of the league in pass blocking efficiency and allowing pressure at an alarming rate.
Even more impressive, Ioane hasn’t allowed a single sack over the past two seasons at Penn State. That kind of consistency is rare, especially for an interior lineman facing top-tier competition week in and week out. It’s one thing to dominate physically—it’s another to be technically sound enough to hold up against NFL-caliber pass rushers. Ioane checks both boxes.
There’s also the matter of value. At pick No. 22, the Chargers are in a sweet spot. Ioane is widely viewed as one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the entire class, and there’s a very real chance he’s still on the board when they pick. Multiple projections have already connected him to Los Angeles at that exact spot, and it’s easy to see why.
From a scheme perspective, the fit makes even more sense. With Mike McDaniel now running the offense, the Chargers are expected to lean more into timing, rhythm and a dynamic run game. Ioane’s mobility and balance make him an ideal fit in that kind of system. He’s not just a mauler—he can move, mirror and execute in space, which opens up the playbook in ways the current interior line simply couldn’t.
And let’s be honest—this team has tried to patch together the offensive line before. It hasn’t worked. The Chargers have cycled through options, dealt with injuries and leaned on underwhelming performances for too long. Drafting Ioane isn’t just about filling a hole—it’s about finally stabilizing the interior for years to come.
If the Chargers are serious about protecting Herbert and maximizing this offense, the decision should be simple. When you have the chance to draft a top-tier guard who can step in immediately and anchor your line, you don’t overthink it.
You turn in the card.
And if Olaivavega Ioane is there at 22, the Chargers should sprint to the podium.