Chargers UDFA may have already taken a lead in sneakily intriguing roster competition

For the Los Angeles Chargers, the ongoing battle for the starting left guard spot will take over the airwaves between now and the start of the season. And rightfully so.

After the way last season went with an interior of Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, and Mekhi Becton, fans expect more in 2026. Hopefully one of Jake Slaughter, Kayode Awosika, or Trevor Penning can give it to them.

But the left guard competition will also have ripple effects across the roster. Even after the release of Ben Cleveland, the Chargers still have 15 offensive linemen vying for nine or 10 roster spots during training camp. This excludes Isaiah World, who was put on the non-football injury list before the start of camp, but it does not exclude Laekin Vakalahi, who has been missing from camp to this point.

All of this is to say that, if Slaughter loses the competition for left guard, the Chargers could be more keen to carry a true backup center on the roster. If it comes to that, it appears as though UDFA Jacob Spomer, who took reps with the third team yesterday over Josh Kaltenberger, has taken an early lead in that competition.

Jacob Spomer has a sneaky case to make the roster— assuming Jake Slaughter doesn't claim the backup center spot

It's been unclear all offseason whether the Chargers will look to carry a true backup center into 2026. Both Slaughter and Cole Strange have experience at the position. Slaughter, for his part, has primarily taken reps as the second-team center so far through training camp.

Given the depth Los Angeles is clearly trying to establish at the guard position, perhaps they believe that roster spot would be better utilized on a piece like Branson Taylor or sixth-round selections Alex Harkey or Logan Taylor.

But if both Strange and Slaughter are starting, Los Angeles may not want to move one inside if Biadasz needs to miss any time. That leaves the door cracked for both Spomer and Kaltenberger.

Kaltenberger did not make the 53-man roster as a UDFA last season, but he was the Chargers' presumed backup center until Spomer was added this offseason. Kaltenberger is a large, physical blocker, and he had a solid final campaign with the Maryland Terrapins in 2024— allowing just 11 pressures and two sacks on 511 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Spomer is significantly smaller at just 6'3" and 290 lbs, but he might very well have the athleticism to make him a viable long-term developmental piece in McDaniel's scheme. He allowed just seven pressures and zero sacks on 408 pass-blocking snaps with Fresno State last season.

Ultimately, it comes down to where the Chargers view Slaughter both this season and long-term. But if there is going to be a roster spot open for either Spomer or Kaltenberger, it seems like Spomer has taken an early lead in that competition.

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