The Los Angeles Chargers have now finished the preseason, so let's take a look at which offensive linemen will make the final 53-man roster.
The Los Angeles Chargers have now completed the preseason after falling to the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 20-18 in the preseason finale.
While the Chargers did not come out victorious, there were some great things to take away from the game. However, since the preseason is now over, it is time to cut the roster down from 90 player to 53 players in preparation for the start of the regular season.
With roster cuts expected to speed up over the next few days, let's take a look at which offensive linemen should be locks to make the final roster, and which offensive linemen may miss out on the roster, but could have an opportunity to make another roster or a practice squad.
Starting with the locks, obviously the starters will be on this team, so that includes offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, guards Cole Strange and Kayode Awosika, and center Jake Slaughter.
While the Chargers have not named an official starter at left guard, it seems that Awosika is trending in that direction, so it will be interesting to see if he maintains that spot or if someone else beats him out.
It is also important to remember that Tyler Biadasz, who was expected to start at center, is now out for the season on season-ending IR due to suffering significant ACL damage, so he will not be included in this count.
In terms of the depth for the offensive line, it seems like almost a guarantee that offensive tackles Travis Burke and Trey Pipkins III will make this team to ensure that the Chargers have reliable depth at tackle, but also have players who could kick into guard if needed.
On the interior in terms of depth, the Chargers will need a backup center, so they will most likely choose one of Josh Kaltenberger and Jacob Spomer. Based on the performances this preseason and throughout camp, Spomer has probably been the better player. So, it seems that Spomer will make this team and Kaltenberger will probably be a practice squad player or could make a different roster.
For more depth on the interior, Branson Taylor is a player who has been competing for the starting left guard spot, and even though it seems like he will not win that job, having him as depth at both guard spots is something that Chargers will very likely do.
With the five starters and four reserves, that brings the count to nine, which is very likely close to the limit that head coach Jim Harbaugh will want to keep in terms of offensive linemen.
If the Chargers want 10 players up front, the final spot will most likely go to either Trevor Penning or Logan Taylor.
In this battle between Taylor and Penning for a potential final spot on the offensive line, it will be interesting to see if the Chargers will go younger and choose Taylor or if they will go with Penning and prioritize veteran depth instead.
With that said, it seems like Alex Harkey, Laekin Vakalahi, and Josh Kaltenberger will most likely get cut, with their best chance at playing in the NFL being on a practice squad or potentially making a different NFL roster.
On another note, Isiah World has been placed on the Active NFI, so he will not be on the roster but will most likely be moved to the reserve NFI so he can remain with the Chargers and develop this season as he recovers from his torn ACL, which he suffered in January in the College Football Playoff.
So, as far as locks go, that should include Alt, Slater, Strange, Awosika, Slaughter, Pipkins, Burke, and Spomer, with Branson Taylor seeming fairly likely to make the team, but on the other hand, Penning and Logan Taylor appear to be roster bubble players and are very close on whether or not they will make the final roster.
