Of all the things that MIke McDaniel brings to the Los Angeles Chargers, the thing that the team is most likely hoping for is a resurgence for the offensive line.
Last season's foibles were well-chronicled. After both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater went down with season-ending injuries, there was a revolving door of tackles who stepped in. Combined with the abysmal play of Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, and Zion Johnson on the interior, Los Angeles' protection was easily among the worst in the NFL last season.
The additions of Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange this offseason were meant to address that. Hopefully, the competition between Trevor Penning, Kayode Awosika, and Jake Slaughter will yield a starting-caliber left guard. But at the end of the day, all of this comes together around the health and availability of Alt and Slater.
If the Chargers are going to pull off an O-line resurgence over the next couple of seasons, it likely means a pair of Pro-Bowl caliber campaigns from their two star tackles. Even a quick look at the cap situation will show you what kind of bill they could be footing as a result.
The Chargers' O-line hinges on Alt, and he could quickly carve out a hefty extension for himself over the next two seasons
Regardless of what the interior ultimately looks like in 2026, the Chargers need both Alt and Slater healthy if they want to find the level of protection they're aspiring to this season. Thankfully, both players seem to be on track in the progression of their rehab to be ready for training camp.
Slater made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021 and again in 2024, and his play in between those two junctures was more than inspiring. There are certainly lingering health concerns given his missed 2025 season and the fact that he was limited to just three games in 2022. But even if Slater doesn't return to full form, he's already secured his bag. He'll enter the first season of his four-year, $114 million extension in 2026, and his cap hit increases each year from here on out.
Alt, arguably, has the higher upside between the pair. He received down-ballot Offensive Rookie of the Year votes in 2024, and he made the Pro Bowl despite appearing in only six games. He has the mobility and the strength to be a major force in McDaniel's scheme. Especially if there's any sort of regression from Slater, Alt could quickly become the anchor of the Chargers' offensive line.
Los Angeles has time before they need to extend Alt. He's still on his rookie-scale deal through 2026 and 2027, and they always have the path of a fifth-year option in 2028. But even the fifth-year option for an offensive lineman is hefty. This season, that number sat at around $19 million. If the Chargers simply want to extend Alt, or end up doing so after 2028, that number could easily approach $30 million annually given the trajectory of offensive tackle contracts.
That's the price that comes with having talented tackles on your team. But there's a real scenario where, if Alt continues at this trajectory over the next two seasons, Los Angeles has upwards of $60 million committed to Alt and Slater in 2029.
Needless to say, that would hold major weight in their attempts to continue filling out the roster with talent.
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