Imagine trying to rebuild a ’69 Camaro with a rusted frame. You’ve got the engine—a roaring V8 that purrs like a dream. But without a solid chassis, that power goes nowhere. For the Chargers, Justin Herbert is that engine. However, L.A.’s front office just let a critical piece of his protection slip away, leaving fans wondering: Is this rebuild on track, or are they polishing a lemon?
The Chargers’ history reads like a country song—full of almosts and heartaches. From Dan Fouts’ Air Coryell days to LaDainian Tomlinson’s MVP magic, this franchise knows how to tease greatness. But since their lone Super Bowl trip in 1994, they’ve been stuck in neutral. Herbert, with his cannon arm and quiet grit, promised a new chapter. Now, a sudden curveball threatens to stall the plot.
On May 2, the Chargers declined guard Zion Johnson’s $17.56 million fifth-year option, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. The 2022 first-round pick, once seen as a cornerstone, now faces a prove-it year. Johnson ranked 47th among guards in 2024 per Pro Football Focus, struggling against stunts and blitzes. The reason behind the snub?
“The old LA Chargers regime liked Zion Johnson enough to draft him in the first round of the 2022 NFL DraftThe Chargers’ old regime loved him,” said Jason Reed of Bolt Beat. “The current Chargers regime does not have the same level of trust in the former No. 17 pick.” But drama has been brewing over the past few weeks.
Chargers decline OG Zion Johnson’s fifth-year option. https://t.co/CycRWfbyDu
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 2, 2025
GM Joe Hortiz hedged for weeks. But the math didn’t lie. Paying Johnson top-guard money for middling play? That’s like buying premium gas for a lawnmower. Instead, L.A. signed ex-Eagle Mekhi Becton to a cheaper two-year deal. Becton allowed just three sacks last year; Johnson coughed up a career-high seven.
Herbert’s been sacked 171 times in five seasons—more than Patrick Mahomes (139) and Josh Allen (83). Last January’s playoff loss to Houston? A nightmare. The Texans bulldozed L.A.’s line, hitting Herbert 9 times. Now, with Johnson on thin ice and center Bradley Bozeman fading, Herbert’s safety net is fraying. He needs cleaner pockets. Otherwise, even Mozart can’t conduct this orchestra. Meanwhile, Hortiz dropped a viral soundbite about his QB.
Hortiz’s “hate” for Herbert: what’s the deal?
“I hate Justin,” he joked on The Pat McAfee Show. “He’s got everything; he’s beautiful, he’s got pinpoint accuracy, he’s athletic as can be, he never looks out of breath, he can throw the ball through a wall, he’s smart. I hate him.” The quote trended faster than a TikTok dance, but the subtext was clear.
Herbert’s talent is why Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh took this job. Justin’s 2024 stats (3,870 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs) scream MVP potential. But Harbaugh knows trophies aren’t won on arm talent alone. The Chargers drafted Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris and North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton to add firepower. However, without a reliable line, it’s like giving Picasso dollar-store paints. But Harbaugh’s no stranger to rebuilds.
Sep 29, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) breaks loose from the grip of Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
At Michigan, he turned coal into diamonds. Now, he’s selling a gritty, blue-collar ethos in Hollywood. “Culture was here,” Hortiz said. “He’s [Jim] like a catalyst for it. Like he’s the match to the fuel, the flame, that’s what Coach is.” Players bought in during Year 1, rallying to an 11-7 record. But fixing the line is his next test.
The Chargers’ dilemma mirrors a line from Friday Night Lights: “Every man at some point faces a moment where he’s called upon.” For Justin Herbert, that moment is now. Can he elevate a shaky line? For Hortiz, it’s finding pieces to protect his $262 million investment. As author Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
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