Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman was asked about offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and his progression during his media availability at Chargers training camp.
The 2022 sixth-round pick has had some interesting years in the NFL. Salyer of course filled in for an injured Rashawn Slater at left tackle during his rookie year. He then had a rather up-and-down experience in the 2023 season when he started at right guard.
Under Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff last season, the Georgia product was largely used as a backup at right guard and started whenever Trey Pipkins was injured.
Roman had a rather interesting answer when he was asked about where Salyer has grown this offseason:
"I gotta tell you, the God's honest truth is I feel like Jamaree (Salyer) made a commitment to being in the best shape he could possibly be," Roman said. "He's a different guy when you subtract 35 pounds of bad weight."
"His ability to move laterally, change direction quickly is so much better," Roman claimed. "Bend, short area change of direction which is so important for an offensive lineman. It's very noticeable improvement. Just his commitment to be in much better shape. He's got some really good playing experience, good instincts. He's a big physical guy that last year quite frankly was held back by the shape he was in. He's doing a great job."
Jamaree Salyer gets love ahead of an important season for the Chargers
2025 is an important year for Salyer. He enters the final year of his rookie contract at a time that the Chargers could look to make some bigger changes to the offensive line in 2026. The contracts of Pipkins, Salyer, and Zion Johnson are set to expire after this season.
But there are some positive signs for Salyer so far. He has rotated in with the first team offense on occasion in practice. For all intents and purposes, he is now the primary backup guard. Jim Harbaugh said that Pipkins is the team's swing tackle, ideally.
Salyer's weight on the Chargers' site is listed at 325 pounds. During the 2022 NFL Draft, he was listed at 321. 35 pounds down from either of those listed weights would put Salyer well below 300 pounds for the first time in his pro career.
It doesn't sound like he'll get a crack at a starting OL job with Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson in the mix there. But Salyer winning over the coaching staff to be the primary swing guard that they'd trust more in an injury scenario would be huge.