NFL teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers, had until May 1 to decide whether to pick up or decline the fully guaranteed fifth-year options for their 2022 first-round draft picks, which would apply to the 2026 season.
These fifth-year options vary depending on the player’s position and fall into one of four categories: basic, playtime, one Pro Bowl selection, or multiple Pro Bowl selections based on original voting. Over The Cap provides a breakdown of each tier.
The Chargers faced a deadline on Thursday to make their choice.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ No. 17 pick lies in Tier 2
Zion Johnson qualifies for the Tier 2 category of the fifth-year option because he played at least 50% of snaps in each of his first three NFL seasons but has not been selected to a Pro Bowl. This tier carries a value of $17.56 million, which is based on the average salaries of the 3rd to 20th highest-paid offensive linemen over the last five years.
Johnson has remained mostly healthy early in his career, missing just two games in 2023 due to a neck injury. He’s been a dependable starter for the Chargers, though he hasn’t particularly stood out. In his third season, he gave up 37 pressures and seven sacks, earning a 63.5 run-blocking grade and a 64.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus across both the regular season and playoffs.
The Los Angeles Chargers make a $17 million call on an offensive starter
#Chargers did not exercise OL Zion Johnson's fifth-year option, per source.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) May 2, 2025
Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, the Chargers have opted not to pick up Zion Johnson’s fully guaranteed fifth-year option for the 2026 season. Consequently, unless a contract extension is reached beforehand, Johnson is set to become a free agent next offseason. This season will serve as a key opportunity for him to demonstrate his value as a reliable starting offensive lineman in the NFL.
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