Ranking every Chargers starter on offense before the 2022 NFL Draft

4. RB Austin Ekeler

Ahead of the wide receiver duo is a player who is an accomplished receiver in his own right. Ekeler is coming off a fantastic 1500+ total yards and 20-total touchdown season that is one of the best Chargers performances in recent memory.

Indeed, with Ekeler piloting the backfield for the Bolts, Los Angeles has one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL. Though Ekeler is coming off his best season as a pro, he needs a solid No. 2 back behind him to help offset his strong workload. If the Chargers are able to pick up this back to help spell Ekeler for periods of time next season, he will be an even bigger boost for the Chargers.

That said, the Western Colorado product has thrived in the limelight since the departure of Melvin Gordon. So while he is certainly the unquestioned main attraction at running back, the position is brutal and having a solid rotation behind the No. 1 back is never a bad thing – just ask L.T. back in the mid-2000s.

Maybe there is a pipe dream fantasy where Gordon comes back to the Bolts or former first-round pick Todd Gurley joins the Chargers to chase a ring. Hey, might as well put it out into the universe. 

3. C Corey Linsley 

A back-to-back All-Pro selection, Linsley is the fulcrum of the offensive line at center. Coming off perhaps his best season as a pro to date, with 16 games played, a second-team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nod, the Ohio State Buckeye is a big part of the Bolts' offensive line.

Appearing in a career-high 1,077 snaps last season for a total snap percentage of 95%, Linsley has shown he can be one of the best centers in the entire league. However, like Feiler, he was called for a career-high five penalties last season which is something to improve on for next year. 

For the center, he has already brought added-value thanks to his prior partnership with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. A stabilizing presence, things should only be looking up in year two of his new duo-ship with Justin Herbert.

Linsley will be 31 by the time the season rolls around, so while he will be a little bit more advanced in age in comparison to his teammates, his veteran leadership and toughness will be a big boost for the Bolts. As the main focal point of the offensive line, Linsley will be in charge of directing the entire direction of the offensive line along with his All-Pro linemate, the next entry on our list.