The Los Angeles Chargers don’t have a great interior offensive line, but they do employ two elite bookend tackles.
Rashawn Slater has proven to be one of the premier tackles in all of football since he entered the league in 2021 and the Chargers just drafted another stud last year in Joe Alt.
They know they have some work to do on the interior, but the tackles are commonly viewed as the most important positions on the offensive line.
Because of their perceived value, they are often some of the most compensated players on their team.
Slater is now in the final year of his rookie deal and deep into June, he is still seeking a contract extension.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) blocks Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (54) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) blocks Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (54) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium.
© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Los Angeles doesn’t usually have trouble extending their own players, but their owner, Dean Spanos, is notoriously cheap, so it’s not a surprise they haven’t extended the former first-round pick yet.
However, he skipped voluntary minicamps and his status for training camp has yet to be determined, so the team should get to work on ironing out an extension sooner rather than later.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report listed what he believes is each team’s most important contract extension and listed Slater for the Chargers.
Outside of their quarterback, Justin Herbert, the star left tackle is arguably the most important part of the offense as he protects the blind side.
The team has put a major emphasis on supporting Herbert better over the last two seasons, so it seems farfetched that this situation becomes irreconcilable.
But, there is no use in souring a great relationship by playing hardball with a deserved extension, so both sides would be better suited if this deal was completed in the near future.