Starting guard Mekhi Becton was released, and there are no plans to bring him back, which opens a hole in the middle of the offensive line. Cole Strange is a veteran pickup, but he is the definition of an NFL Draft bust. Ioane is nowhere near as massive as Becton, clocking in at 6’4 and 328 pounds, but he can block as well as most starting guards in the league right now.

NFL Draft Buzz says Ioane compares favorably to Tyler Booker, the Dallas Cowboys guard. In 2025, Ioane lined up for 613 snaps and did his job to keep quarterback Drew Allar upright. He allowed just four hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks on the year. He’s someone Justin Herbert will like a lot, and he’s no slouch in the running game either. Once he gets his hands on a defender, they are completely out of the play, and if he makes it to the second level, someone may go home on a stretcher.

Ioane is not perfect and does need to be better against three technique defensers, who can make him look like he’s standing still at times. Even with that needing improvement, adding him to a line that already has Biadasz, Joe Alt, and Rashawn Slater can only mean good things for the Chargers.