Cole Strange may not have Mekhi Becton’s upside, but he brings versatility, a better scheme fit and more reliability. It’s not a flashy upgrade—but for a struggling Chargers O-line, raising the floor might be exactly what they need.
The Chargers didn’t exactly hide what they thought about last year’s offensive line. Moving on from Mekhi Becton and bringing in Cole Strange signals a clear reset at right guard—but whether it’s actually an upgrade is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no.
Let’s start with Becton, because his lone season in Los Angeles never really stabilized. On paper, he brought size, power and a Super Bowl pedigree. In reality, it was a mixed bag. Injuries popped up again, consistency was an issue and the production didn’t match the expectations. The Chargers’ offensive line struggled across the board in 2025, and Becton was a big part of that problem, finishing with one of the lowest grades on the unit.
That’s ultimately why the team cut ties—they weren’t getting reliable play, and they needed to get more athletic and more dependable up front.
Enter Strange.
The Chargers signed Strange to a two-year deal with the expectation that he’ll step right into that same role. Statistically, he’s not a slam-dunk upgrade, but there are some subtle differences that matter. According to ESPN metrics, Strange was slightly better as a run blocker than Becton, but a bit worse in pass protection.
That alone tells you this isn’t a clean upgrade—it’s more of a trade-off.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Strange brings versatility that Becton never really offered. He’s played both guard spots and even has experience at center. For a Chargers team that’s still trying to figure out its best five offensive linemen, that flexibility matters. He also fits better in a system that leans on movement and athleticism, especially under a coaching staff that wants linemen who can get to the second level and operate in space.
Becton, for all his size and power, was more of a traditional mauler. When things were clean, he could move people. But when asked to adjust, recover or stay consistent snap-to-snap, the results were uneven.
There’s also the financial component. The Chargers are paying less for Strange than they did for Becton, and that lowers the risk significantly. If Strange ends up being just average, that’s still a win compared to what they were getting—and paying for—last season.
That said, Strange isn’t without concerns. His pass-blocking metrics and overall grades have been underwhelming, and there’s a reason he’s already bounced between multiple teams early in his career. He’s not a sure thing, and expecting him to suddenly become a high-end starter would be optimistic.
So, is he an upgrade?
From a pure talent standpoint, probably not. Becton’s ceiling is still higher when he’s right. But from a reliability, scheme fit and cost-efficiency standpoint, Strange might actually give the Chargers what they were missing: stability.
In the end, this move feels less like upgrading the position and more like raising the floor. And honestly, after how last season went, that might be exactly what the Chargers need.