The Los Angeles Chargers have made any path to making their roster as an offensive lineman difficult this offseason.
After letting Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, and Mekhi Becton go, they replenished their depth entirely. There are now a total of 14 offensive linemen currently on the roster who will be fighting for a total of nine or 10 roster spots in training camp.
In one sense, this is the way it always had to be. The Chargers have seen first-hand what injuries and a lack of viable depth can do to an offense. Combined with the newfound intensity in Mike McDaniel and Butch Barry's practice plan, this environment should bring the best out of the linemen that ultimately remain on the roster when it's slimmed down to 53 players.
It will also result in some difficult cuts. Among these could be Laekin Vakalahi— one of the latest examples of the NFL's fascination with international players. But after his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles came to an end, Vakalahi will at least get the chance to prove he's more than just a project this offseason.
Laekin Vakalahi will get his chance with the Chargers to prove he belongs in the NFL
Vakalahi's NFL career, oddly enough, began on a mission trip to Hawaii, where he encountered Eagles international scout Chris Naeole. Vakalahi had never played a snap of football before in his life, but Naeole was impressed by his size and strength. A former junior rugby player, Vakalahi measures in at 6'5" and 320 lbs.
Vakalahi isn't even the latest example of Philadelphia taking a swing on an inexperienced international prospect. They just added defensive tackle Uar Bernard with a seventh-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But when the final roster cuts were made before the start of last season, Vakalahi was waived. He now gets a fresh opportunity in Los Angeles.
In all honesty, there probably is no real path for Vakalahi to make the Chargers' roster. He's listed as an offensive tackle, and beyond Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, Los Angeles is relatively set on depth at the position. Trey Pipkins III will take on swing tackle duties in 2026, and the Chargers also drafted Travis Burke in the fourth round of this year's Draft and added Isaiah World as a UDFA. Although World will likely 'red shirt' his rookie season as he rehabs the ACL tear he suffered at Oregon, the Chargers guaranteed him a near-record amount of money on his UDFA contract.
But now that Vakalahi has been let go by the organization that originally brought him to the NFL, he needs to prove to a new coaching staff and a new developmental system that he's worth the gamble. He'll get, at least, an entire offseason to work under Barry and to learn the finer points of McDaniel's agility-dependent blocking scheme.
If he can stick on the Chargers' practice squad and show serious development this season, there's always a chance that Los Angeles (or another team) will take notice.
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