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COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers commanded attention at the outset of the offseason.

They acquired All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second-round pick this year and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Then the Bolts signed Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson to a whopping five-year, $82.5 million contract in free agency.

But a star-studded streak of activity came to a halt on the opening night of the NFL draft when the Chargers used their first-round pick, No. 17 overall, to select a guard.

“Guards are people too, right?” Tom Telesco asked, grinning, in a rhetorical question following the opening round of his 10th NFL draft as Chargers general manager.

After making the high-profile initial offseason moves to improve a defense that ranked No. 29 in the NFL last season and allowed an average of 27 points per game, the Chargers selected Boston College guard Zion Johnson with their first pick in the draft, prioritizing protection for third-year quarterback Justin Herbert and a need to keep their offense moving.

• Kiper’s draft grades for every team »
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• Rankings | Analysis of every pick
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• More coverage » | Full draft order »

“I know it’s not the sexiest pick in the world, but he’s tough, he’s durable, he’s smart,” Telesco said about Johnson, who is anticipated to step in immediately at right guard. “We have some excellent skill players, both at receiver, tight end, also at running back and with Justin Herbert.

“Obviously, these guys cannot do their jobs without a rock-solid offensive line. As much as this pick is to protect our quarterback, which is a big part of it, this is also to facilitate everybody else. It’s pass protection, it’s run game.”

It’s not just that the Chargers’ first pick wasn’t that exciting, their entire draft didn’t warrant headlines. And it also didn’t yield the exact results for which the general manager hoped.

“It never goes perfect, because you can’t control everything,” Telesco said. “But it was a good weekend of work.”

However, in a season with playoff expectations after a near-miss in 2021 extended a three-year postseason drought, the Bolts were able to quietly address several areas of need, including the offensive and defensive lines, running back and the secondary.

“From the last game that we played ’til now, we’re certainly a much different-looking football team,” said Brandon Staley, whose first season as coach resulted in a 9-8 record and third-place AFC West finish. “There’s a lot of time between now and when we play, so we’re always going to be trying to find that winning edge, but I really like the team we have in front of us now.”

The Bolts selected eight players after entering the three-day event with 10 total picks. Two of their picks, both seventh-round selections, ended up with the Bears, as the Chargers traded them to re-acquire the 2023 sixth-round pick they sent to Chicago as part of the Mack trade.

The Chargers selected guard Jamaree Salyer in the sixth round to join Johnson on the offensive line. The Georgia product has experience playing all five positions on the line, and although he said some teams projected him as a right tackle, the Chargers have penciled him in as an interior player.

“He has a great makeup, great attitude to come in and try and win a job,” Telesco said about the NCAA national champion.

The Bolts used a fourth-round pick on Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller, whose rushing and pass-catching abilities are expected to complement Austin Ekeler. Staley said safety Derwin James Jr. vouched for Spiller “in a big way” as another former player of coach Jimbo Fisher, who coached James at Florida State and Spiller at A&M.

“[James] was saying, ‘You know that if you can play all three downs for Jimbo that you’re a legit guy,'” Staley explained. “He has really good instincts.”

Spiller led the SEC in rushing yards since 2019, which includes a conference-best 1,844 rushing yards after contact in that span.

The Chargers also added Purdue fullback Zander Horvath in the seventh round.

Defensively, the Bolts built depth in their secondary by selecting Baylor safety JT Woods in the third round.

“He’s a safety with a lot of cover ability, with his length and his speed,” Telesco said. “He shows a little bit of corner movement, so we kind of see him as a defensive back.”

They also picked Wake Forest cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor and Mississippi cornerback Deane Leonard in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

The Chargers also drafted UCLA defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia in the fifth round to join a defensive front that already has undergone a significant makeover with the addition of defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson in free agency. Like Ogbonnia, Joseph-Day doesn’t have to travel far, as he was with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams last season.

“We look at lot closer to what I expect to look like,” Staley said about the interior of the defensive line. “We’re not there yet, but we’re a lot closer.”

Some questions remain as the Chargers continue the offseason program and look ahead to training camp.

Despite adding two offensive linemen, there remains no clear starter at right tackle. Storm Norton and Trey Pipkins III will again be among candidates to fill the spot.

And depth continues to be a concern on the edge behind Mack, Joey Bosa and second-year man Chris Rumph II.

“To kind of fill out the depth of that position, we’re going to have to look elsewhere,” Staley said. “Whether it’s the undrafted free agency right now or veteran free agency or before the first game — sometime during training camp — that’ll probably happen at one of those three junctures.”

As Staley prepared to exit his post-draft news conference, he provided a reminder the work is ongoing.

“Today is an ending, tomorrow is a beginning,” he said.

Sometimes it’s flashy. Sometimes, as seen during a three-day draft stretch, it’s less than glamorous.

But if all goes as planned, each phase will play its part in making the Chargers relevant again come late January.

NFL free agency has been going for about a week now, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began March 16 at 4 p.m. ET, which means free-agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins April 28 on ESPN.

The Chargers entered free agency with a star quarterback in Justin Herbert, who was named to the Pro Bowl in his second season after throwing for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdown passes in 2021. And they were able to take care of a big offseason priority by re-signing receiver Mike Williams, who agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract, with $40 million guaranteed and $28 million in the first year of the deal after having a career year in 2021.

The Chargers are also making moves to bolster their defense, as they acquired pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears to provide pass-rush help to Pro Bowl Joey Bosa to combat an AFC West that’s gotten even tougher with the Denver Broncos trading for Russell Wilson.

They were also looking for a right tackle, a guard and possibly a cornerback, along with some big guys on the defensive line to shore up a rush defense that was among the NFL’s worst.

Here’s a breakdown of every 2022 NFL free-agent signing by the Los Angeles Chargers, and how each will impact the upcoming season:

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The Chargers are giving the former Patriots CB a Los Angeles Chargers are giving former New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson a five-year, $82.5 million deal that includes $40 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

What it means: The Chargers just watched the team they share a stadium with (the Los Angeles Rams) win a Super Bowl and still have star quarterback Justin Herbert on his rookie contract. In other words, it’s time to push their chips in and go after a Super Bowl. That’s the only logical conclusion after agreeing to terms with the market’s best cornerback, trading for edge rusher Khalil Mack and re-signing receiver Mike Williams to a $20-million-a-year deal. The Chargers just missed the playoffs last year but in the uber competitive AFC, they clearly recognized that big moves were needed.

What’s the risk: Big-money free agent signings always come with some level of risk. With Jackson, the risk comes in comparable players, such as Malcolm Butler, who have soared from undrafted free agents to highly-paid No. 1 corners and not panned out. Jackson also had some struggles against Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs, raising some questions about how he’ll hold up weekly against other top wideouts. But Jackson’s 25 interceptions are the most in the NFL over the past four seasons and he’s allowed the lowest passer rating (42.0) as the nearest defender in the league since 2018. It’s risky, but worthwhile to pursue for a defense now loaded with talent. — Nick Wagoner

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The former Rams defensive tackle agreed to move across town to play for the Chargers, as he will sign a three-year deal worth up to $24 million.

What it means: Joseph-Day only has to switch home locker rooms at SoFi Stadium to join his new team as the Chargers continue to spend big to bulk up their defense. Joseph-Day reunites with coach Brandon Staley (the former Rams defensive coordinator) and joins edge rusher Khalil Mack, cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive tackle Austin Johnson as important additions to the Los Angeles defense and, like Johnson, will be tasked with improving a run defense that yielded the third most yards in the league in 2021. He finished second in the NFL in run stops per game (2.75) last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

What’s the risk: Joseph-Day was limited to just seven regular season games in 2021 because of a pectoral injury. Though that was the only time he missed in the past three seasons, it brings a bit of a question mark as he joins the Chargers. To his credit, Joseph-Day returned to play in the Super Bowl. Like with Johnson, this isn’t a bank-breaking deal, but Joseph-Day will need to avoid further injury and ramp up production for this deal to be a win for the Chargers. — Wagoner

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Hopkins has signed a multi-year deal with the Chargers, according to the team.

What it means: Bringing Hopkins back was a no-brainer for the Chargers, as he provided much-needed stability in the kicking game after being signed this past October. Hopkins hit 18 of 20 field goals (90%) and 30 of 32 extra points (93.8%) after taking over for Tristan Vizcaino. Hopkins previously played for the Washington Commanders from 2015 through the first six games of 2021.

What’s the risk: Hopkins performed above his career average this past season, so he might be prone to falling back. But considering the problems the Chargers had at kicker prior to his arrival with the likes of Vizcaino and Michael Badgley, it’s worth it to them to continue to roll with Hopkins.

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Covington is re-signing with the Chargers, according to the team. Contract terms were not disclosed.

What it means: The Chargers get back a role player for the interior of their defense to join free agent signings Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. Covington played in 16 games last season with three starts and had 52 tackles along with one sack.

What’s the risk: There appears to be very little risk by re-signing Covington. He’s coming off a career-high year for tackles and with the addition of Khalil Mack, Covington may end up with more opportunities to get to the quarterback with so much attention being paid to Mack and Joey Bosa. He could also help bolster a run defense that was among the worst in the NFL. — Josh Weinfuss

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Johnson will sign a two-year deal worth up to $14 million, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

What it means: The Chargers continue to make significant additions to a defense that needed them. While this won’t move the needle like the Khalil Mack trade or J.C. Jackson agreement, this is a quietly solid move. Johnson has been a productive, durable player for the Giants and was one of the top run stoppers in the league in 2021 (he ranked sixth in ESPN’s run stop win rate among nose tackles). That’s important for a Chargers defense that allowed the third most rushing yards in the league last year. Los Angeles had now added an impact player at every level of its defense as it continues to build toward becoming a legitimate AFC contender in 2022.

What’s the risk: Johnson hasn’t missed a game in five seasons and though this deal isn’t anything to sneeze at, it’s also not a bank-breaking move, either. Which means there really isn’t a whole lot of risk here. Although he is probably more of a two-down player, Johnson is a logical fit who should be fine in the Chargers scheme. — Wagoner

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Daniel agreed to a 1-year, $2.25 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

What it means: With Justin Herbert locked in as the starter, Daniel will return in a backup role for the Chargers. Which means if he makes the roster, Daniel will enter his 14th NFL season, all of which have been spent as a backup. Daniel has just five career starts to his name. Not many players have carved out such a niche and continued to receive significant paychecks for this long without ever getting a real shot to be a starter.

What’s the risk: There really isn’t much risk here given the price and what will be asked of Daniel. The only real risk might come in some form of opportunity cost. Which is to say it’s fair to wonder if the Chargers could have found a better backup option instead of re-signing Daniel. Still, this price tag wouldn’t prevent the Chargers from pursuing such a possibility if it were to present itself. — Wagoner

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Terms of Everett’s deal were not disclosed.

What it means: The Chargers have their pass-catching tight end. Everett had the best season of his NFL career in 2021, his only year with the Seattle Seahawks, when he caught 48 passes for 478 yards and four touchdowns. The Chargers’ leading pass receiver at tight end from last season, Jared Cook, is a free agent.

What’s the risk: Everett looks like a good bet for the Chargers. He’s only 27 and his production in terms of catches and yards has increased every season since he arrived in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. He doesn’t have to put up big numbers to justify the signing, not with the Chargers having receivers like Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and a back like Austin Ekeler.

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The Chargers signed Reeder to a one-year deal.

What it means: Reeder reunites with Chargers coach Brandon Staley, who was the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2020. Reeder joins the Chargers after three seasons across town with the Rams. He’s played in every game the last three seasons with the Rams, compiling 91 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. He started 13 games, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LVI.

What’s the risk: While the Chargers need reinforcements at inside linebacker, as they lost Kyzir White in free agency and saw Kenneth Murray Jr. deal with injuries and inconsistency a year ago, Reeder was not tendered by the Rams as a restricted free agent. He does have limitations in pass coverage, but perhaps familiarity with Staley will be a boon for Reeder.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Looking for the hottest trend in NFL circles? Try … teams taking advantage of their young-but-elite quarterback’s still relatively manageable rookie contract.

Exhibit A: the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert.

“It’s not just enough to outscore people in this league,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said at last week’s NFL owners’ meetings. “You’ve got to win in a lot of different ways in this league. It’s not just surrounding [Herbert] with offensive weapons; it’s surrounding him with a complete team, where the pressure isn’t on him every single game to score 35 [points], to throw for 350 [yards], you know, to bring you back. And I think that’s what we’re trying to do is surround Justin and all of our players with a complete team.”

And you have to be able to afford said pieces, right?

So with Herbert, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 draft, entering Year 3 of his four-year, $26.5-plus million contract, the Chargers were able to go after big names with just-as-big price tags. And primarily on the defensive side of the ball.

First, the Chargers acquired edge rusher Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in this year’s draft and a sixth-rounder in 2023. The deal was agreed to March 10 and made official on March 16, the first day of the new league year. Mack has been an All-Pro performer in eight seasons with the Raiders and the Bears, registering six sacks in seven games last season and a career-high 12.5 in 2018 in Chicago when Staley was his outside linebackers coach.

“That’s going to be a fun guy to play with,” Mack said of Herbert. “He has a lot of different intangibles. Not just from a football aspect, but just the mindset. Just watching that mindset from afar, I’ve kind of admired it. I admire his mindset more so than his play.”

Los Angeles converted $13.5 million of Mack’s salary into a bonus and created $9 million in salary cap space, setting the stage for the rest of the week.

Because on March 14, the Chargers got defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day to change SoFi Stadium locker rooms, convincing the former Los Angeles Rams nose tackle to agree to a three-year, $24 million free-agent contract with $15 million guaranteed. Joseph-Day had three sacks in seven games last season before suffering a torn pectoral in early November, though he returned for the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI triumph.

And a day after that, the Chargers reached a deal to sign cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million deal with $40 million guaranteed, as well as defensive lineman Austin Johnson to a two-year, $14 million contract with $10.625 million guaranteed. Jackson has a league-best 25 interceptions since entering the league in 2018 and his eight interceptions in 2021 were one more than the Chargers had as a team.

“Football,” Herbert said last season, “is a three-phase game.”

Even if the Chargers were defense-heavy in free agency … ostensibly to help Herbert. And without Herbert’s still-affordable contract, it probably wouldn’t have been possible.

Especially not in an AFC West that saw the Denver Broncos land quarterback Russell Wilson, the Las Vegas Raiders acquire receiver Davante Adams and the six-time defending division champion Kansas City Chiefs trade away receiver Tyreek Hill but sign JuJu Smith-Schuster.

“I think what you’re seeing right now is competition in the NFL,” Staley said. “I think it’s amazing for the NFL. You’re seeing all these teams make these types of moves and I think that’s what the NFL represents is, ‘Hey, you better be working to make your team as good as you can be or you’re going to get left behind.'”