Can Chargers still fill existing holes on offensive line?
LOS ANGELES General manager Joe Hortiz and the Los Angeles Chargers leadership have maintained, at least in public, that they don’t see any gaps on the Chargers squad since the end of free agency’s peak.
However, the Chargers’ roster flaws were clearly visible during their most recent game, when they were defeated 32–12 by the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card stage of the playoffs.
Justin Herbert, the quarterback, was sacked four times and under pressure on 39% of his dropbacks during that defeat. After only throwing three interceptions during the season, he now tossed four. The Chargers only managed 50 rushing yards on 18 carries, while tight ends and wide receivers who weren’t named Ladd McConkey combined for five catches for 45 yards.
After that Texans thrashing, Jim Harbaugh told reporters that the Chargers’ problems were evident and that the Texans’ edge rush was the greatest his team had seen this season. He also said that the offensive line did not adequately protect Herbert.
“He’s got to be able to finish a throwing motion,” Harbaugh said. “Quarterback’s got to be able to do that, and we didn’t put him in the position to do that enough.”
The Chargers made reinforcements in free agency with centre Mekhi Becton, running back Najee Harris, and wide receiver Mike Williams after the Houston loss demonstrated that they desperately needed offensive support. These trades didn’t solve all of the Chargers’ problems, and they still required improvements on the tight end, receiver, and interior offensive line going into last weekend’s draft, the organisation claims openly.
By selecting Ole Miss’ Tre Harris in the second round and Auburn’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth, L.A. took care of their receiving problems early. In the fifth round, they also traded up to acquire Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II. However, the Chargers only took one player in the sixth round for their offensive line: Brandon Taylor of Pittsburgh, a tackle they anticipate competing at guard. Given how the previous season concluded, the Chargers’ modest draft investment in the team’s interior was a touch surprising. Although the Chargers made other upgrades to help Herbert, there are still concerns on the offensive line.
“I think we proved that last year we’re very active from the draft on,” Hortiz said of upgrading the team postdraft. “O-line specifically, love the guys that were already here, love that we added Branson, and they’re all going to go out there and compete, play the best five, and roll.”
The Chargers had the second-most cap room in the NFL entering into free agency, but they weren’t huge spenders. Becton, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract with $6.94 million fully guaranteed, was the Chargers’ most significant free agency pickup.
With the Eagles, Becton enjoyed his best season to date in 2024, excelling as a run blocker in particular. He was much ahead of the Chargers’ starting guards from the previous season, right guard Trey Pipkins (50th) and left guard Zion Johnson (43rd), finishing 24th in the run block victory rate among guards. The only other offensive line addition was Andre James, a former centre for the Raiders who was defeated by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson in Las Vegas late last season. The sixth-round selection, Taylor, now becomes a member of the group.
“Coaches are excited about him,” Hortiz said. ” He’s smart, he’s tough .. [he’s] a people mover.”
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The Chargers are still in trouble at centre and left guard, where Bradley Bozeman started the last year. The intention is to attempt Johnson at centre this season, according to Harbaugh and Hortiz. Harbaugh stated during owner meetings that Pipkins is the team’s leader at left guard before training camp.
Pipkins has never started at left guard in a regular season game. Last season, after selecting Joe Alt in the first round, the Chargers switched him from right tackle to right guard. Pipkins performed poorly as a run blocker and was erratic at guard.
But the Chargers aren’t afraid to make moves after assessing the club throughout training camp, as Hortiz hinted at following the draft. Hortiz initiated trades for former Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke and former Titans safety Elijah Molden just before the start of the regular season because they were reportedly unhappy with their quarterback play and recognised the need for safety following training camp the previous season.
If Johnson and Pipkins or another Chargers combo perform poorly in training camp, such moves might occur again this offseason. The Chargers’ interior decisions will probably have a significant impact on whether or not their season ends differently than it did in Houston the previous year.
Hortiz seemed assured when asked if he was comfortable starting this season without any additions at left guard or centre prior to the draft: “We were pretty good last season. Eleven wins, right?
