The Los Angeles Chargers had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, and they’re hoping rookie Jake Slaughter can help fix this issue. Selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Florida product spent his entire collegiate career at center. This made his selection something of a surprise, as Los Angeles already addressed their problems at the position.
Bradley Bozeman started 16 games at center last year and was arguably the worst player in the league at his position. The eight-year veteran retired in the offseason, and the Chargers spent big on former Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz. Signed to a three-year deal, the proven veteran is a capable starter and should lock down the center position for years to come. This naturally leads to confusion around the Jake Slaughter pick, as he has no clear path to the field as a center.
Chargers Unveal Bold Plan For Rookie Jake Slaughter
According to General Manager Joe Hortiz, the Los Angeles Chargers plan on using Jake Slaughter at guard (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). This is a bold decision, as Slaughter never played a snap at guard throughout his collegiate career, but the team clearly believes he has what it takes to make the transition, and he could compete to start in Week 1.
As mentioned above, the Los Angeles Chargers had an atrocious offensive line last year, and quarterback Justin Herbert might not survive another season with such poor protection. Fortunately for him, however, the unit should be better in 2026. Star tackles Rashawn Slater and former top-five pick Joe Alt will return to the field, giving Herbert one of the best exterior pass-blocking duos in the league. Additionally, Tyler Biadasz is a solid center who should be a significant upgrade on Bozeman.
The biggest problem left on the offensive line is the guard position. Last year, the Chargers entered the season with former first-round pick Zion Johnson and big-money free agent Mekhi Becton at the two positions. Johnson was arguably the team’s most consistent offensive lineman last year, but that says a lot more about the rest of the unit than it does Johnson. Los Angeles let him walk and sign a $49.5 million offer with the Cleveland Browns. Becton, meanwhile, proved to be one of the worst free agent signings in football. The former Super Bowl champion finished the 2025 season with an abysmal 37.1 PFF grade, and the Chargers released him after the season.
The Current Plan
If the season started today, veterans Trevor Penning and Cole Strange would probably be the starting guards. While both players entered the league as first-round picks, neither one has come close to justifying their draft capital. Penning began his career as a tackle with the New Orleans Saints but moved to guard after repeated failures at the position. Strange, meanwhile, had an up-and-down tenure with the New England Patriots but suffered multiple injuries and struggled to stay on the field. The Chattanooga product started 14 games for the Miami Dolphins last year and did an adequate job with the increased role.
Penning and Strange would be one of the weaker guard duos in football, but they both have starting experience and shouldn’t be active liabilities. However, there’s plenty of room for improvement here. If Jake Slaughter hits the ground running and makes a seamless transition from center to guard, he should be the Week 1 starter. However, if he needs time to adjust to the new position, Stange and Penning can hold down starting jobs in the short term.
