There are high expectations for the Chargers’ offense as the 2026 season approaches.
The offense is expected to be an elite unit following the addition of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Los Angeles is expected to take a major leap, and they certainly have the potential to do that, especially if the revamped offensive line performs as expected.
No unit was re-evaluated more than the Chargers’ offensive line, and because of that, they enter the season as a top-10 unit, at least according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF ranked the Chargers No. 7 in their offensive line ranking ahead of the season.
“Rashawn Slater is reportedly still on track to be good to go when the regular season begins despite a brief injury scare in training camp, and, all being well, we will get a full season of him and Alt bookending this line for the Chargers,” Gordon McGuiness of PFF wrote.
“Slater ranked second among all offensive tackles with a 90.9 PFF grade in 2024 before missing all of last season, while Alt had allowed just seven pressures from 118 pass-blocking snaps before his injury last year. The guard spots are a bigger question mark, but the health of their tackles will drive their success in 2026.”
The projected five protecting Justin Herbert consist of (from left to right): Rashawn Slater, Jake Slaughter, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange and Joe Alt.
While Slaughter is slated to start at left guard (according to PFF), nothing has been confirmed, as there is an ongoing battle for the starting role. The interior offensive line was their Achilles’ heel, ranking among the worst in the NFL.
Los Angeles did everything in its power to improve that significantly, and the addition of McDaniel will help as well.
Slater and Alt missed significant time in 2025 with their respective injuries. If those two are in the trenches, protecting Herbert, that alone will do wonders for the entire offense.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers’ offensive line gets major recognition from PFF
Reporting by Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire | USA TODAY Network
