Rashawn Slater and the rest of the 2021 NFL Draft class is entering their fourth season in the league in 2024. Fourth-year players are officially eligible to sign extensions past their rookie contracts, meaning the LA Chargers are on the clock to get a deal done to lock Slater down long-term.
Technically, the Chargers don't have to get a deal done before or during the 2024 season. Los Angeles already picked up the fifth-year option on Slater's deal for the 2025 season, which is projected to pay him just over $19 million, per Over The Cap.
The Chargers could also franchise tag Slater after the 2025 season to keep him in Los Angeles. So really, the Chargers have three full seasons to play with when it comes to getting a deal done for Slater.
But more often than not teams will get deals done early for two reasons; first, to avoid any conflict with the player and do right by the team's superstars. There is also the market factor that every team needs to take into consideration. The longer a team waits to sign a new deal, the more the market is going to grow.
The Chargers were reminded of that on Tuesday as Christian Darrisaw struck a new deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw have agreed on a 4-year deal worth up to $113 million in new money, including $77mil in guaranteed money. He had two years left on his rookie contract. Deal includes 43.7 guaranteed at signing.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2024
Chargers' price for Rashawn Slater just grew thanks to Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings
Darrisaw was selected 10 picks after Slater in the 2021 NFL Draft and has had a successful career for the Minnesota Vikings thus far. While Darrisaw has been healthier than Slater in their three years since joining the league, he has not displayed the same elite, All-Pro ceiling the Chargers' left tackle has.
Slater was a Second-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in his rookie season and has been slowed down by injuries since. Because of that ceiling, coupled with how improtant the left tackle position is, Slater and his camp should be expecting a pay day that is larger than Darrisaw.
And even though Darrisaw isn't quite on the same level as Slater or fellow draft classmate Penei Sewell, he just signed for market-resetting money. Earlier this offseason, Sewell signed a four-year, $112 million contract with $85 million guaranteed. Nobody expected Darrisaw to get more than Slater, even if the guaranteed money is slightly less.
Sure, Darrisaw is only getting $1 million more overall than Sewell if he gets the entire value of his contract but it is the precedent it sets that is important. If someone who is on a lower tier gets more than Sewell, what does that mean for Slater? Suddenly, the Chargers might be looking at a price tag that could be as high as $120 million.
The longer the Chargers wait, the more this price tag is going to continue to climb. It would be of the best interest of everyone involved if the Bolts get this over with and sign Slater before the 2024 season begins.