Los Angeles Chargers Put A Bow On Their Draft Which Has Strong Ties To Quarterback Justin Herbert

One can block, one can cover and after that, good luck predicting what the Los Angeles Chargers draft haul will produce.

“Your first-round pick, yeah, that guy is probably going to fill a need right away,’’ L.A. general manager Tom Telesco said after tying a bow on Saturday’s NFL draft.

“Second round, it would be nice (for him) to have a bigger role. But everybody after that, these are just guys that we hope can come in, earn a role, play some special teams and then develop into players down the road.’’

Guard Zion Johnson is the people-mover out of Boston College who went first to the Chargers at 17th overall. Johnson has experience, an edge and a thirst to learn that likely has him starting on the right side by the season opener.

“He’s really, really strong,’’ Telesco said. “He can anchor on big people in pass protection but he is also a very good athlete and he’s really smart.’’

Safety JT Woods, arrived from Baylor with 79th selection. He’s known as a ball-hawk (six interceptions last season) and for being rangy, which sounds like the qualifications to play in a L.A. coach Brandon Staley’s secondary.

The thinking is Woods will mesh well with colleagues Derwin James and Nadir Adderly, potentially allowing the Chargers to show three-safety alignments. Whatever spot Woods lands in, the Chargers will look to him for turnovers, not necessarily tackles.

Running back Isaiah Spiller was tabbed in the third round at No. 123. He finished as one of the more productive backs in Texas A&M history with 25 rushing touchdowns and consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Of the following five Chargers players drafted, Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, in the sixth round at No. 195, might be the most interesting. Salyer was a captain on last year’s national championship team and a second-team All-SEC honoree.

While most his snaps came at left tackle, Telesco said guard would be his destination in the NFL as L.A. continues to build depth around quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Chargers also flipped two seventh-round picks to the Chicago Bears for their sixth-rounder next year. L.A. reacquired a selection it had peddled to Chicago earlier in the offseason in exchange for linebacker Khalil Mack.

“That fact that it was actually our pick is kind of ironic,’’ Telesco said. “I guess.’’

Let the guess work begin with the freshest Chargers competing for a roster spot.

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