Unlocking Justin Herbert's potential means rebuilding the offensive line. Discover the blueprint for fortifying key positions and protecting your franchise quarterback.
The number one thing on the offseason priority list for the Los Angeles Chargers should be, and probably is, fixing their offensive line. It was the biggest reason the team couldn't reach their potential in 2025 and it's incredibly important for protecting the long-term health of Justin Herbert.
The good news is that, in theory, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt should return to their Pro Bowl form after recovering from their lower-body injuries.
That takes care of the two tackle spots, although the team will probably need to sign one more guy to be the swing tackle to fill in when/if more injuries happen. Jamaree Salyer, Bobby Hart, Austin Deculus and Trey Pipkins are all free agents this offseason.
As mentioned earlier this week, it is widely accepted that the Chargers will use their 1st round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on an offensive lineman with OG Ola Ioane from Penn State the early favorite to be the selection. Let's assume they happens and he wins the starting spot right away.
That leaves the Chargers with two positions to fill, one much more important than the other:
One would be whichever guard spot Ioane doesn't take. That one is easy enough to fill, whether you're bringing back Mekhi Becton (not a free agent but would save a bunch of salary cap if they cut him), Zion Johnson or Trevor Penning.
IDEA: I said about a week ago that I think the Chargers should target New Orleans Saints OG Cesar Ruiz in a trade, which can get really interesting when you consider that Ruiz mostly played center for Michigan under Jim Harbaugh and was considered a good enough offensive lineman in the 2020 NFL Draft to be selected as either a guard or a center.
If they were to trade for Ruiz, that would then leave the Chargers with two plans...
Plan A
LT Rashawn Slater
LG Cesar Ruiz
C (free agent signing)
RG Ola Ioane
RT Joe Alt
The free agent market for centers is very competitive, but that's because the difference between a really good center and everyone else is usually dramatic.
This year's class of free agent centers includes:
Tyler Linderbaum, BAL
Conor McGovern, BUF
Ethan Pocic, CLE
Cade Mays, CAR
That's a pretty big drop-off from those first two guys (who are awesome) and the other two. There are other names available on the market, of course, but I'm not sure there are many that I would be thrilled to see handed the Chargers' starting center job.
Plan B
LT Rashawn Slater
LG (free agent signing)
C Cesar Ruiz
RG Ola Ioane
RT Joe Alt
I know, this one is a little outside the box since Ruiz hasn't actually played center in years (or in the NFL, for that matter), but it's typically easier to find a guard than a center on the free agent market. If the Chargers determine that they can trust Ruiz to take the starting job in the middle, that would give them more flexibility to hunt for free agents to complete the line.
That would also, if they wanted to, allow Los Angeles to do something like re-sign Zion Johnson if they believe in his future and think he's worth whatever contract his agent is asking for. He wasn't great in 2025 but he wasn't bad, and he's still quite young.