The Los Angeles Chargers have had so many different issues pop up during the Justin Herbert era, with every year providing some new hole that continues to grow and ultimately puts a hard cap on their potential. Last year, it was the offensive line, as injuries and ineffectiveness ruined their offensive plans.
The running game may have suffered more than Herbert and the passing game, as both Kimani Vidal and rookie Omarion Hampton were in for some rough sledding. The "stuff rate" stat, which shows what percentage of carries went for either zero or fewer yards, illustrates just how steep this uphill climb was.
Hampton had the fourth-highest stuff rate in the NFL at 24.2%, while Vidal was third with a 25.2% clip. The only players who were wrangled in the backfield at a higher clip than this were Ashton Jeanty, who may have (somehow) had a worse offensive line in his rookie season, and Zonovan Knight, who is currently the fifth-string back on the Arizona Cardinals.
Chargers' stuff rate shows just how bad the offensive line was in 2025
Last year was as abborant as possible in terms of offensive line health, as injuries to names like Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater not only stretched their depth to breaking point, but it devolved to the point where they were one step from pulling the popcorn guy out of the stands to suit up. How else would one explain Bobby Hart?
Even the healthy players they had last year underwhelmed. Zion Johnson continued to fail in his task of playing like a No. 17 overall pick, Bradley Bozeman was unwatchably bad, and Mekhi Becton went from a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles to the same volatile bust that he was in his time with the Jets. Luckily, the new-look line is here.
On top of signing Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange in free agency, the Chargers used four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on offensive linemen. Three of them, including second-round selection Jake Slaughter, play on the interior. The Chargers can't be accused of letting this problem fester.
Not only will this improved offensive line finally allow Herbert to grip and rip the football down the field in a way he wasn't always able to last year, but it will give Hampton the runway he needs to be the bell cow running back Los Angeles believes he can be at his apex.
Add us as a preferred source on Google