Building the ideal LA Chargers offensive line for 2021
By Jason Reed
Ideal LA Chargers left guard: Alijah Vera-Tucker
In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft the LA Chargers should probably take USC tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker. Rashawn Slater is very intriguing but there is a slim chance he falls to 13 and I do think there is a chance the team trades down in the first a few picks, and if so, Vera-Tucker becomes the guy.
Vera-Tucker is projected to slide to the inside at left guard in the NFL but he certainly is good enough to play left tackle. However, because of his size and how the Chargers have operated in the past, I would be surprised to see the team start him at left tackle in year one.
Vera-Tucker is an extremely well-polished offensive lineman and should be able to handle the leap to the next level in the NFL. This is the kind of start that the Chargers need to build up the offensive line. They have to make a statement and pick a lineman in round one to show that they are committed to protecting Justin Herbert.
Personally, I think the Chargers should take an offensive lineman with each of the first two picks in the draft and there is a very specific tackle that I am eyeballing to pick in the second round. The Chargers would have to either hope he slips to 45 or they could trade up earlier in the second with the assets they get for trading down for Vera-Tucker.