Entering training camp, there were always going to be plenty of eyes on the Los Angeles Chargers' competition for starting left guard.
But the battle was thought to be relatively straightforward. Jake Slaughter, whom the Chargers selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, would have the inside track. Kayode Awosika and Trevor Penning would compete for the starting job, but they would both likely be slated for depth roles on the offense.
Things haven't quite turned out that way. Awosika has taken the bulk of first-team snaps, and it appears that he has a lead in the competition as it stands. But the Chargers have also tried out swing tackle Trey Pipkins III and depth guard Branson Taylor at the position, throwing a bit of a wrench into the competition in the process.
In all likelihood, Pipkins' reps with the first team were merely an experiment— a chance to see what he could do if injuries tossed him into that spot during the regular season. But the Chargers clearly believe there's still upside to be unlocked with Pipkins, and that might give us a glimpse into what the depth chart will look like even beyond 2026.
Trey Pipkins III is facing some quiet threats to his Chargers future
Harbaugh notably called Pipkins one of the team's "five best" offensive linemen during his press availability earlier this week. If that's true, Pipkins hasn't fully proved that on the field.
He found his footing eventually last season when he was thrown into the starting 11 by the injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but things looked rough for most of the campaign. Across 376 pass-blocking snaps, Pipkins allowed 27 total pressures and four sacks (per Pro Football Focus.) Without any truly better options on the open market, Los Angeles' decision to bring him back on a two-year, $10 million deal with just over $4.5 million guaranteed was a justifiable move.
But in the long-term, there are certainly some threats to Pipkins' future with the organization.
The Chargers selected rangy tackle Travis Burke in the fourth round of the Draft before adding Isaiah World as an UDFA. World has been placed on the non-football injury list, and he'll likely miss all of his rookie campaign as he rehabs the torn ACL he suffered when he was still at Oregon. But at nearly 6'9" and 325 lbs, Burke has the potential to be mobile and physically formidable swing tackle of the future in Los Angeles. World, for his part, received a near-record UDFA contract this offseason.
It was always unlikely that Burke usurped Pipkins on the depth chart in 2026. But Pipkins has an out on his contract next offseason that would leave Los Angeles with only $1.375 million in dead cap. If both Burke and World are ready to go, we could have a much more interesting competition for the swing tackle spot at this time next year.
But the coaching staff's clear faith in Pipkins and willingness to move him around the offensive line show that they believe there might be more in the tank for the eighth-year pro.
Hopefully we won't need to see Pipkins in action this year. But perhaps he has a firmer grasp on the swing tackle spot than we intially thought, making the path to snaps for both Burke and World steeper until at least the end of 2027.
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