Zion Johnson
Cleveland BrownsModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
STM Take
Four straight tier 8 finishes for a 17th overall pick is one of the largest negative draft-slot-vs-outcome arcs at the IOL position in recent memory. The Boston College 43-start technical foundation raised expectations that the on-field production has consistently failed to meet. The 2026 question is whether Johnson finally crosses into tier 6-7 territory or whether the Chargers move on from the structural tier 8 baseline.
Johnson came out of Boston College as the Los Angeles Chargers' 1st-round pick (17th overall) in 2022 after starting 43 games for the Eagles at left tackle and guard. The Chargers installed him at right guard from week one of his rookie year. His STTM career runs tier 8 (#109) rookie, tier 8 (#100) in 2023, tier 8 (#86) in 2024, and tier 8 (#68) in 2025, four straight tier 8 finishes despite the 17th overall pedigree.
Strengths
- 41-spot year-over-year improvement from tier 8 (#109) rookie to tier 8 (#68) in year four shows steady developmental trajectory.
- Boston College 43-start positional flexibility plus four years of NFL starter reps gives him basic structural floor.
Concerns
- Four straight tier 8 finishes for a 17th overall pick puts him in the worst negative draft-slot-vs-outcome class at the IOL position.
- Chargers' broader offensive line investment (Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins III) plus Justin Herbert's contract structure pressures the front office to move on from underperforming high picks.
What to watch: Whether Johnson crosses into tier 6 (top 50) in 2026 plus signs a market-rate extension, or whether the Chargers decline the 5th-year option and explore upgrades.
Comps
Zion Johnson Injury StatusNot listed
Zion Johnson is not on the injury report as of Oct 7. Source: the official NFL injury report, refreshed daily.