Browns guard and former Chargers first-round pick out of Boston College, signed in Cleveland in 2026 free agency.
Zion Johnson is a durable interior offensive lineman who spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Cleveland Browns. The Chargers declined his fifth-year option in May 2025, and he hit free agency in 2026. Cleveland signed him to a three-year, $49.5 million deal in March 2026, per ESPN, to help reshape its interior line.
Path to the league
Johnson played his college football at Boston College, where he developed into one of the more polished guard prospects in his class. The Chargers selected him 17th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He stepped into the starting lineup early and played both guard spots in Los Angeles.
Career highlights
Across four seasons with the Chargers, Johnson was one of the team's most available linemen, starting consistently from his rookie year. Reporting on his 2025 season described it as the best of his career as a run blocker, though analysts noted his pass protection remained a work in progress.
2025 season
Johnson was the Chargers' most durable offensive player in 2025 and graded out as one of the league's better run-blocking guards, per coverage of his free-agency move. Pass protection lagged behind, ranking near the bottom in pass-block win rate. He left Los Angeles in 2026 free agency and signed with Cleveland.
Sources
- ESPN: Browns bolster O-line, reach deal with guard Zion Johnson
- ESPN: Zion Johnson player page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Boston College
- Hometown
- Bowie, MD, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
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