The Los Angeles Chargers were thrown for a major loop earlier this month when star left tackle Rashawn Slater went down with a torn patellar tendon. This season-ending injury was devastating for the team and fan base, but also a reality check about the Chargers' offensive line depth.
With Joe Alt now at left tackle and Trey Pipkins III slotted in at right tackle, things are less than ideal on the offensive line in Los Angeles. So, having an abundance of players and configurations to choose from might behoove the team if things go sideways during the regular season.
Andre James is a solid enough backup on the interior, but the team needs a suitable swing tackle after the release of David Sharpe. Ryan Nelson and Corey Stewart were clearly not up to snuff, so the team made a surprising release to make room for a trade to fix this issue.
Chargers release sixth-rounder Branson Taylor, trade for OL Austin Deculus
On Tuesday afternoon, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Chargers were releasing versatile offensive lineman Branson Taylor. This came as a shock, considering he was the No. 199 overall pick in this year's draft.
In what felt like a corresponding move, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the Chargers were sending a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Houston Texans in exchange for swing tackle Austin Deculus.
Deculus was a sixth-round pick by the Texans in 2022 out of LSU. He enjoyed brief stints with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints before returning to Houston this offseason. This preseason, he played exclusively left tackle, but he has played ample snaps on both sides in preseasons past.
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However, Deculus has only played 68 offensive snaps in the regular season during his three-year career. Still, he should be a benefit to the Chargers as the team and fan base had been clamoring for more offensive tackle depth since Slater's injury, and he could easily fit the bill.
Taylor's departure is a bit disappointing, as now two of the Chargers' Day 3 draft picks from the 2025 NFL Draft have been waived before ever playing a regular season game. Both could end up back on the practice squad, but this is a rough start to their NFL careers.
If Deculus fails to pan out as a solid reserve swing tackle, Los Angeles may be forced to test the market once again. However, if Alt and Pipkins can hold it down and Deculus is anything approaching solid, the Chargers easily won this trade, albeit at the expense of a recent draft pick.