The Los Angeles Chargers have shown some promise in the first two years of the Jim Harbaugh era but have mostly underwhelmed failing to even win a playoff game and losing both their opening round playoff games by multiple possessions. The offensive line has been a concerning point for the team thus far in the Harbaugh/Herbert era especially during this past season as the unit was likely the worst in the NFL. If the Chargers plan to make year 3 of the Harbaugh/Herbert era the breakout season, then the offensive line will need to step its game up. Here I will go into detail assessing the offensive line of the team heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at left tackle is former first rounder Rashawn Slater who is among the best players at his position, but who missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to injury. Slater during the 2024 season was graded as the 2nd best overall tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and consistently graded in the well above average to elite range prior to that as well. Getting Slater back is a huge deal for the Chargers and if he can stay healthy, they will have one of the premier tackles in the NFL.
Set to start at the left guard spot is 2026 2nd round pick Jake Slaughter who was among the best collegiate offensive lineman. Playing in arguably the toughest conference in college football, Slaughter garnered two straight first team All-SEC selections from 2024-2025. During that time, Slaughter garnered a first team All-American selection followed by a second team All-American selection recognizing him as one of the premier guards in the country during his time at the University of Florida. Slaughter will certainly see his rookie growing pains but was a very strong pick in my estimation and is a player who I presume will be a perennial pro bowl caliber player in the NFL. If Slaughter can capture some of his prime form late into the season and heading into the playoffs, the Chargers will have a very strong starting guard for a potential Super Bowl run.
Set to start at center is newly acquired veteran Tyler Biadasz from the Commanders and Cowboys previously. Biadasz struggled in the early portion of his career as he graded in the below average range among players at his position in two of his first three seasons in the NFL while grading in the middle of the pack the other year. However, Biadasz has since had three straight seasons grading in the above average to well above average range among players at his position in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Biadasz will be a very good starting center for the Chargers if he is on his A game as he has been for the past three seasons in a row.
Set to start at right guard is former 1st rounder Cole Strange who has underwhelmed in his career thus far although still showing some promise. Strange, a 2022 1st round pick, has graded below average to well below average among players at his position in three of four seasons in the NFL thus far. However, Strange did have one very effective season ranking (26/88) in terms of an overall offense according to Pro Football Focus among qualified players at his position. Strange has ranked above average in terms of pass blocking in two separate seasons and has ranked above average to well above average in terms of run blocking in another season. Strange as a first round pick has mostly underwhelmed thus far in the NFL although showing some promise. However, Strange played for inept offensive franchises during his first four seasons in the NFL in the Patriots and Dolphins. Now that he is paired with one of the greatest offensive head coaches ever in Jim Harbaugh, perhaps the premier offensive coordinator in the NFL in Mike McDaniel, one of the most talented QBs in the game in Justin Herbert, and strong offensive personnel, perhaps Strange can now come into his own and live up to his potential that he has shown. If he does, then the starting right guard spot will be in good hands for the Chargers.
Set to start at right tackle is 2024 1st rounder Joe Alt. Alt just like his counterpart at left tackle in Rashawn Slater suffered a season ending injury during the 2025 season. Likewise, Alt just like Slater is also one of the best overall tackles/offensive lineman in the NFL. Alt graded in the well above average range across the board as a rookie and was in line to build off of it and become a star headed into year 2 before an injury derailed him. Alt has a chance to become one of the premier tackles in the NFL if he can remain healthy and on the field.
From a reserve standpoint on the offensive line the Chargers have some notable names that could step up for the team in light of injury and/or potentially start for the team if the young talented guards are struggling in particular. 2021 3rd rounder Ben Cleveland has looked consistently above average to well above average albeit playing in limited snaps on the interior of the offensive line. While 2021 1st rounder Trevor Penning was selected very highly and has still shown some promise in the NFL thus far. Penning looked strong in limited snaps as a rookie and was in to become a star but has consistently graded below average since. However, he has still shown some promise during that time span and still has perhaps not had enough experience as of yet. He has also transitioned between guard and tackle in those seasons not getting the chance to get acclimated to either position being drafted as a tackle, while also playing for an offensively inept franchise in the Saints thus far in his career. Now that he has transitioned to a very conducive offensive situation in the Chargers and can focus on playing just one position instead of multiple while also gaining more experience, perhaps he can come into his own and live up to his high draft billing as he was set to do after year 1 in the NFL. If he does, then the Chargers will have a very strong reserve offensive line to back up an already talented starting line.
The Chargers’ offensive line has been a big concern in the Herbert/Harbaugh era, but the front office seems to have finally gotten it right heading into the potential breakout year 3 of the era. If the offensive line plays to near its potential, then they can easily be one of the premier offensive lines in the sport. However, that is a big if as the Chargers are currently starting a rookie and another very unproven former high draft pick at both guard spots, while they have good but not great depth on the offensive front. However, if the young high draft pick starting guards live up to their potential starting next season, if the line can stay relatively healthy and/or if the promising reserves can play well, then the Chargers can have one of the premier offensive lines in the NFL next season. As they would check all the boxes in terms of not having a weak link as a starter, having high end talent present on the line in the form of Alt/Slater in particular, while also having a good amount of depth. But there is also a chance that the Chargers have a below average offensive line if the questionable interior of the offensive line underwhelms and if the tackles cannot stay healthy which was the case last season. A breakdown of the Chargers’ offensive line can be found below.
2026 Chargers’ Projected Starting Offensive Line
LT – Rashawn Slater – A to A-, could take jump to A+ range starting next season
LG – Jake Slaughter – 2026 2nd rounder, one of the premier collegiate offensive lineman over the past two seasons
C – Tyler Biadasz – B to B+
RG – Cole Strange – C+, former 1st rounder, not yet had the chance to live up to potential, could start to live up to it in 2026
RT – Joe Alt – B+ to A-, could take jump to A range in 2026 which will hopefully be his first full season outside of rookie year
Notable Chargers’ Reserve Offensive Lineman
G – Ben Cleveland – B to B+ in very limited snaps as former 3rd rounder
T/G – Trevor Penning – C to C+, former 1st rounder, perhaps has not had the chance to reach potential, could start to do so in 2026
