The LA Chargers need to rebuild the offensive line to protect franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers had the worst offensive line in the league last season and while Justin Herbert was great under pressure, the Bolts cannot afford to take any risks with Herbert’s health in 2021.
There are several different directions the Chargers could go in the offseason. Whether be in the draft, free agency or even in a trade, the Chargers have several different outlets to completely rebuild the offensive line.
Today, I wanted to build my favorite version of the 2021 offensive line that is doable yet solid. And my ideal offensive line is not the same as the others who write for Bolt Beat, so we could see several of these articles with each of us taking different paths.
Building the ideal LA Chargers offensive line in 2021:
Backup offensive lineman: Sam Tevi (swing tackle), Scott Quessenberry, Drake Jackson, Cole Toner, Storm Norton
The LA Chargers will naturally have more offensive linemen on the roster but the immediate five backups should be the five listed above. The Chargers should look to bring Sam Tevi back to be the team’s main backup swing tackle as he has experience on both sides of the ball and as betters in 2020.
Quessenberry and Toner are just fine as depth pieces and if one of them has to start a handful of games it won’t be the worst thing in the world. They are far from perfect guards, but they are good enough.
I am hoping the team takes Drake Jackson to be the backup center in the fifth round or so. Jackson has a lot of potential and will fall in the draft as he is pigeon-holed as a center-only prospect. I really like him as a depth piece.
Finally, I have Storm Norton as the backup right tackle and the team will have Trey Pipkins as an option as well. I know it is less than ideal, but with limited funds, the Chargers are not going to be able to spend on a better backup right tackle.
Let’s start with the right tackle, as he is the only member of last year’s team on this ideal offensive line.