Los Angeles Chargers land surprisingly high in NFL offensive line rankings 2024

The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line has often been a weakness for the team. With the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive tackle Joe Alt, there’s a lot of hope Los Angeles starts vaulting up the NFL offensive line rankings in 2024.

At the end of the 2023 season, the Chargers ranked 16th in Pro Football Focus‘ offensive line rankings. However, it factored in life with the best lineup featuring left tackle Rashawn Slater and center Corey Linsley. Thanks to injuries to both starters, it didn’t fare nearly as well last fall.

Los Angeles ranked 20th in PFF’s Pass Blocking Efficiency (83.9), allowing the 10th-most pressures (204) and sixth-most quarterback hits (39) in the regular season. With Harbaugh and Co. taking over the Chargers coaching staff, expectations were always going to be raised for the 2024 season.

Linsley, an All-Pro center, has retired. However, Slater is returning at left tackle and Alt is coming in to start at right tackle on the Chargers offensive line. Plus, the club added Bradley Bozeman to provide an immediate replacement for Linsley at center, with Jamaree Salyer and potentially Trey Pipkins competing for the right guard job in 2024.

Changes to the unit mean there needs to be time for players like Bozeman and Alt to develop chemistry with their new teammates in the trenches. Plus, a position switch could come with a learning curve for Pipkins. However, NFL analysts are pretty high on the Chargers offensive line in 2024.

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In PFN’s NFL offensive line rankings for the 2024 season, the Chargers ranked 14th. It would classify them as above-average in the NFL and there’s optimism that the Slater-Alt pairing could be one of the best tackle duos in the NFL.

Los Angeles Chargers offensive line stats (Pro Football Focus)

• 2023: 204 pressures allowed (10th most), 39 hits allowed (7th most), 27 sacks allowed (10th most)
• 2022: 201 pressures allowed (3rd most), 45 hits allowed (2nd most), 20 sacks allowed (18th most)
• 2021: 160 pressures allowed (13th fewest), 30 hits allowed (13th most), 21 sacks allowed (16th)

However, in FTN Fantasy’s NFL offensive line rankings, the Chargers ranked 11th with analyst Dan Fornek casting a lot of hope for the front five in the 2024 season. In fact, Fornek believes there’s enough upside for the Chargers offensive line to be considered a top-five unit later in the year.

Matt Bitonti of Football Guys is the highest on the Chargers’ front, placing them eighth in his NFL offensive line rankings just behind the New York Jets and ahead of teams like the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers heading into the summer.

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We don’t necessarily believe the Chargers offensive line will be one of the 10 best in the NFL in September. Alt will need months to truly get a good handle on playing right tackle, especially at this level, and the interior offensive line projects to be closer to average than great. However, time is what matters.

With the help of offensive line coach Mike Devlin, assistant offensive line coach Nick Hardwick and a great run game with an elite quarterback under center, the Chargers offensive line should look a lot better as the season moves on. By November, we’re confident in saying a healthy front five should be in the top 10 of NFL offensive line rankings and that will translate to a healthier Justin Herbert with a consistent offense.