Now that we're so far removed from the end of last season, it's easy to forget what the feeling was surrounding the Los Angeles Chargers just seven short months ago.
After a painful defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round, the Chargers ultimately moved on from both Bradley Bozeman and Mekhi Becton— opening them up as the most financially flexible team in the NFL. Any disappointment, then, was tinged with a healthy dose of excitement.
With Greg Roman gone and the interior of the offensive line a clean slate, Los Angeles had a wide berth to improve upon their 2025 outlook.
But to many fans' disappointment, the Chargers didn't leverage that capital into a major splash in free agency. They instead adhered to the vision of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, entrusting Cole Strange at right guard and leaving the left guard spot open to a competition between three relatively unproven pieces.
Even if they didn't make a major splash on the market, though, Joe Hortiz made his vision clear. The Chargers needed depth along the offensive line, and through a number of free agent signings and a series of draft-day trades, they got it.
So how does this all crystallize upon Travis Burke? Beyond Trey Pipkins III, the Chargers don't truly have a reliable swing tackle— and Los Angeles has seen firsthand how a lack of tackle depth can tank an offense.
Burke—the rangy, 6'9" developmental tackle—has shown out through training camp and the preseason, and in doing so, he's justifying Hortiz's offseason plan of attack with each passing day.
The Chargers' offensive-line depth has improved exponentially— and Travis Burke is the loftiest example
The Chargers allowed just four total pressures in their preseason opener against the Houston Texans. With rookie linemen cycling in and out, that's a highly impressive feat.
Harbaugh commended those pieces, and especially Burke, in his press availability at the Chargers' first practice after the matchup.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh on LT Travis Burke: “I thought he gave a great effort. Great hustle. Probably played the most plays of anybody.”
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 15, 2026
“At one point we had five first-year rookie linemen playing at the same time. Never seen that. They acquitted themselves well.” pic.twitter.com/bY7C7joKLj
Burke, who was selected in the fifth round by Los Angeles, profiled as a tall, flexible, and athletic tackle coming into the draft— with a need to improve in his recovery and footwork. It seemed, frankly, like it could be a while before he was ready for extensive NFL snaps.
That's the risk you take when you add unproven offensive linemen. There's always a chance they need time to develop or get their feet wet at their new positions, and that's time Los Angeles simply can't afford if the injury bug comes knocking.
But Burke was excellent in his preseason debut, allowing just two pressures on 30 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle. Harbaugh was evidently pleased. The impressive performances didn't stop there, though.
Jake Slaughter allowed just one pressure on the same dose of snaps. Kayode Awosika had a clean slate across nine snaps. Logan Taylor got sime time at tackle, and he allowed just one pressure on 33 pass-blocking opportunities.
Even if Burke was the Chargers' most impressive depth piece in the preseason opener, virtually all of the team's rookie linemen "acquitted themselves well" (as Harbaugh says).
Burke could be an immediate upgrade over the likes of Austin Deculus and Bobby Hart, who helped fill in when Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater went down last season. Hopefully that's not something that needs to happen, but it is Hortiz's plan coming to fruition before our very eyes.
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