Penning arrived in New Orleans after being a first round selection.
After a pre-draft trade gave the Saints another first rounder, they used the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on the offensive lineman. He was the fourth tackle selected that year.
All in all, Penning finished his time with the Saints having played in 46 games (29 starts) over his four years.
The offensive lineman was a star at Northern Iowa during his collegiate career.
Penning played in 37 games over his career with the Panthers, starting 33 of them.
He started all 12 games at left tackle in his final season with Northern Iowa and was the only offensive lineman in the country to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is annually awarded to the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year.
Penning became the first player in Northern Iowa's history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The move brings the Chargers some experience on a unit that has battled injuries.
With star **[offensive tackles Joe Alt](https://www.chargers.com/news/joe-alt-to-ankle-injury-surgery-2025-season)** and Rashawn Slater now both out for the season (Slater was injured in training camp), the trade for Penning brings some depth and position flexibility.
While it remains to be see how he factors in, whether at tackle or guard, he adds some insurance to the offensive line with Trey Pipkins III, Austin Deculus and Jamare Salyer all figuring to be factors with the absence of Alt.