The Los Angeles Chargers may not have the explosive playmakers around Justin Herbert that many fans want to see the front office acquire, but that is likely a byproduct of the front office committing a ton of resources to improving the offensive line.
New GM Joe Hortiz came into town with a star left tackle in the making in Rashawn Slater, and he chose to supplement Herbert's collection of bodyguards by pulling off a Draft Day move for Joe Alt. Hortiz's desire to build a strong line, as he had helped do previously in Baltimore, has proven to be a fruitful endeavor.
In ESPN's ranking of the top offensive tackles in the league, in the eyes of scouts and executives, the Chargers are well represented. Slater ranked sixth in the league, while Alt was listed as one of the top honorable mentions after just one season in the pros.
Herbert may have to deal with yet another year of subpar skill position groups (Ladd McConkey notwithstanding) and an archaic offense that doesn't take advantage of his skills in the best way, but that offensive line tackle duo is as good as it gets across the entire AFC right now.
Chargers OTs Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt praised by ESPN ranking
After missing most of 2022 with injuries, Slater has bounced back in a big way by making a Pro Bowl in his first season under the watchful eye of Jim Harbaugh. Pro Football Focus is in love with Slater, as he was their second-highest-graded tackle (91.1), third-best pass blocker (90.4), and fifth-best run-blocker (82.8) last year.
Alt was a bit of a controversial draft pick in the eyes of many fans, as the Notre Dame left tackle was selected when Malik Nabers was still on the board. It took one season for Alt to alleviate all of those concerns surrounding his ability.
Slater has the potential to earn a ridiculously expensive contract if he can sustain his high level of performance, and all signs seem to indicate that Hortiz will shake his roster up to accommodate this deal. Alt, meanwhile, can keep growing into a Pro Bowl-level right tackle alongside him.
The Chargers may have some stern competition in a crowded AFC, but with a rock-solid tandem of bookend tackles, this offense should have enough baseline competency to keep them right in the thick of the postseason hunt in Year 2 of Harbaugh.