Los Angeles Chargers select Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer in 2022 NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Chargers are banking on Georgia product Jamaree Salyer to come in and give their offensive line a boost. After playing a pivotal role throughout his time in Athens, the former Bulldogs offensive lineman will be expected to do the same in his NFL career. That’s why the Chargers took him off the board in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, picking him No. 195 overall.
In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Salyer was a fixture along the Bulldogs offensive line. Last season, Salyer realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Additionally, Salyer was recognized for his talents last season, earning 2nd Team All-SEC honors.
Most importantly to the Chargers, Salyer possesses immense athletic gifts that allow him to be one of the more intriguing offensive line prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. The ceiling for the former Georgia offensive lineman is high, to say the least.
A former five-star recruit in the class of 2018, Salyer was the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The former Georgia star played his high school football at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, Salyer was the fourth-ranked recruit in Georgia coming out of high school, and the No. 14 overall recruit in the nation, according to On3’s 2018 Consensus Top Football Recruits.
What NFL draft analysts are saying about Jamaree Salyer
Furthermore, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com broke down what Jamaree Salyer can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the offensive lineman’s draft profile. The analyst compared the Georgia product to Quinton Spain, a former undrafted free agent offensive lineman out of West Virginia. Since coming into the league with the Tennessee Titans in 2015, Spain has started 90 games in the NFL.
“The broad chest, bulbous thighs and long arms sound like a nice starting point for a move inside, but Salyer is high-cut and lacking functional bend, which makes his projection more difficult,” wrote Zierlein. “No matter the position, range and leverage are going to be a concern in the running game. The athletic limitations could lead to erratic results depending upon the matchup, but he is qualified and capable of doing battle against power-based defenders. His pass sets can be clunky and disjointed, but he is fairly confident in pass protection and his best position could be right tackle.
“He offers roster flexibility but he has the ceiling of a below-average starter or quality backup.”