It took longer than expected after taking an edge rusher in round one and trading back in the second round, but the LA Chargers eventually did it: they added offensive line help to protect Justin Herbert in 2026 and beyond. With the No. 63 pick, the Chargers took Oregon Florida center Jake Slaughter.
Slaughter was announced as a guard, so the plan is clearly for the Chargers to play him at left guard. He will presumably start alongside Rashawn Slater, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange, and Joe Alt.
It felt inevitable that the Chargers would take a guard in the second round given how big of a draft need it was. That being said, the Bolts still found a way to surprise Chargers fans with who they selected. Slaughter wasn't the expected route, and there are a lot of fans who aren't happy about it.
Jake Slaughter isn't who Chargers fans expected... or wanted
Can't complain about OL entirely but...over Pregnon, Dunker, and McCoy...idk man
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) April 25, 2026
Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon was the big fish that Chargers fans thought they were getting. Pregnon isn't a perfect scheme fit in Mike McDaniel's offense, but he was clearly the best guard available on the board. Joe Hortiz swears by taking the best player available, so Pregnon seemed obvious.
They chose Slaughter over Pregnon. Ugh.🤦 https://t.co/3auAnEEAtu
— Since Last Chargers Championship (@LastChargers) April 25, 2026
But he clearly wasn't the best player on the Chargers' board. The mauling Oregon guard was passed over in favor of someone who has never played a snap at guard in college, which could be an issue.
The Chargers end up taking someone who’s never played guard in Jake Slaughter, and announce him as a guard.
— Daniel Wade (@dantalkssports) April 25, 2026
Skipped on Emmanuel Pregnon and Gennings Dunker to take an unproven player at guard, but a highly regarded center. Don’t love it but definitely was a Mike McDaniel pick.
New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel continues to have a big influence over who the Chargers add to the offensive line. Strange is one of the few guards in the league who would have been a statistical downgrade from Mekhi Becton at right guard, yet that's who the Chargers signed.
It's because of his familiarity in McDaniel's system and McDaniel's belief that he can scheme around guards. McDaniel clearly thinks he can scheme around someone who has never played guard. It's a risky bet for the Chargers, who probably will have a different offensive coordinator a year from now.
All Chargers fans can do at this point is hope McDaniel and the front office is right about Slaughter's transition to guard. Herbert was the most pressured quarterback in the league last season and the Bolts will never get over the hump if they don't fix that problem.
Can Slaughter help fix the problem? Sure. But that is a lot of pressure on a player who has never played the position he will play in the NFL. If it doesn't work out, it won't be wholly surprising.
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