Year 2 of the Brandon Staley era in Los Angeles appears to be off to a promising start, based on how oddsmakers see the Chargers Super Bowl odds and playoff chances in the season ahead.
The Chargers are fresh off a 9-8 season, their first above .500 since 2017, and chose to use the majority of their draft picks to bolster their presence in the trenches.
That should do wonders for third-year quarterback Justin Herbert, who has thrown for 9,350 yards and 69 touchdowns with the Chargers so far.
Among the draft highlights for Los Angeles in 2022 were offensive guard Zion Johnson, who the Chargers took with the 17th pick, Baylor safety JT Woods (third round), UCLA defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia (fifth round), Georgia offensive guard Jamaree Salyer (sixth round), and Ole Miss cornerback Deane Leonard (seventh round).
The team also added Wake Forest CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fifth round) and Purdue fullback Zander Horvath (seventh round).
Chargers History With Offensive Guards in First Round
The Chargers' decision to draft an offensive guard with their first round pick was an unusual one for the franchise, which has only selected a single player at that position in the first round dating back to their founding in 1960.
That choice worked out well, as 1963 first-rounder Walt Sweeney out of Syracuse University would go on to be a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and nine-time Pro Bowler — resulting in his inclusion in the Chargers Hall of Fame.
Sweeney spent 11 seasons with the Chargers before closing out his career with two seasons in Washington.
If Johnson proves to be as successful for the Chargers as Sweeney, then Staley and company will likely be more than happy with their selection.
Who the Los Angeles Chargers Took in the NFL Draft
The Chargers wound up taking eight players in total during the 2022 NFL Draft, including Johnson, further bolstering the team’s lineup across the board.
Chargers Among Super Bowl LVII Favorites After Draft
The Chargers have solid odds of winning the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl in 2022, listed in a tie for seventh overall.
But Chargers fans will need to drive to the Super Bowl’s host state, Arizona, or Nevada to place that wager. There is no legal California sports betting. Sports betting goes before voters in November.
L.A. is +1600 to win Super Bowl LVII, tied with Denver. The Chargers are also +250 to win a stacked AFC West.
It appears the Chargers are primed for their best season in a half-decade in 2022, with a matured Herbert under center and a bevy of skilled players around him.
