The LA Chargers have navigated free agency in a way that has left fans incredibly angry and underwhelmed for what feels like the millionth time. Joe Hortiz watched an 11-win team get bashed in the trenches all season long, and it all came to a head with an embarrassing playoff loss to the New England Patriots, who had them in shambles all night.
Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh made some important decisions, like letting go of Greg Roman and Mike Devlin, and releasing guard Mekhi Becton. However, the failure to build up the roster in areas that have been glaring weaknesses for years has left fans wondering what the plan is heading into this season.
Do the Chargers sign another low-cost veteran or two to anchor the interior and add a later-round draft pick as a developmental piece? Do they reach for an interior lineman at pick 22 and hope he can start right away? Is there a trade to potentially improve the roster on the horizon?
One idea that has been floated among fans, especially with the patellar tendon injury, is moving Rashawn Slater inside to guard. That would leave Joe Alt on the left side and force the team to figure out right tackle through the draft or free agency. While that sounds good in theory, the Chargers cannot afford to move Slater inside. Financially, sure. But on the field, losing elite protection on the edge creates more problems than it solves.
Slater has a chance to return and continue his career at a high level even after the injury. With how far sports medicine has come, a full recovery with minimal drop-off is not out of the question. By September, fans could be watching him back at left tackle, and everything could be fine. But that doesn’t mean the line can’t be adjusted in a smarter way.
Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt should flip positions on the Chargers OL
Flipping Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt makes a lot more sense and doesn’t disrupt the line nearly as much. Alt has already shown he can handle the left side, and Slater moving to the right side could give him a better chance to stay consistent long-term.
At that point, Slater may be paid like a left tackle, but functionally, he becomes a high-end right tackle, which still carries a ton of value. Alt, meanwhile, gets locked in as the franchise left tackle on a rookie deal with years of control ahead.
What the Chargers can’t do is move elite tackle talent inside just to patch another problem. This offense has a chance to work if the edges are strong, and both Alt and Slater give you that. When you have two players like that, it’s not a problem. It’s something you should be building around.
With those two on the edges, Justin Herbert should benefit in a big way. The question is whether Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel will lean into that strength and actually build around it. If they do, this line could go from being a concern to a real strength. If they don’t, it’s going to be the same conversation all over again.