The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. This pick was highly controversial, leading fans to question the future of this Chargers offensive line. What is going to happen to current starting right tackle Trey Pipkins? Who’s the odd man out?
Jim Harbaugh Comments Add To Confusion
With the current state of the offensive line, there are six starting-level players. This led to a plethora of questions for head coach Jim Harbaugh. He practically added to the confusion with his comments during his press conference after the selection of Joe Alt.
Harbaugh initially states that Rashawn Slater’s future was up in the air at left tackle by saying “To be determined.” He then contradicts himself later in his press conference by saying Slater is “locked in” at left tackle. What is it, coach?
During the same press conference, Harbaugh said “We don’t know yet” about where Joe Alt is going to play on the offensive line, but adds he is a tackle. Sounds like a great plan for your fifth overall selection.
Who’s The Odd Man in The Chargers Offensive Line?
As it stands, the Chargers offensive line has three starting-level tackles who have only played tackle, two very young guards who have positional versatility and starting experience, and a veteran center who is a perfect scheme fit. If you counted correctly that is six starting offensive linemen.
So, that begs the question, who is the odd man out in the Chargers offensive line? Let’s start with the easy one, Rashawn Slater. He is locked in at left tackle, as mentioned before. Now at left guard, we have the 2022 first-round selection, Zion Johnson. Johnson is a breakout candidate under the new strength and conditioning staff, and new offensive scheme, where his traits will be maximized. It is very likely to say that he is also safe at left guard.
Question Marks on the Chargers Offensive Line
Moving onto Center, the Chargers signed Bradley Bozeman, the former Ravens and Panthers center. Bozeman is going into his age-30 season and his seventh year in the NFL. He has been a starting center since 2019 and has shown to be a solid run blocker during his tenure under Ravens offensive coordinator, Greg Roman. He struggled in a different scheme but should come back to form, due to his familiarity with Roman.
At right guard, you have 2022 sixth-round selection, Jamaree Salyer. He was a draft steal for the Chargers, playing at left tackle his rookie year, impressing everyone in the league. After a coaching change, he moved inside to what was considered his “natural” position at guard. He played 2023 there. It was not a very good season for Salyer, granted, it was a bad year overall for the Chargers.
Who is The Last Man Standing?
So… Trey Pipkins is still the projected starting right tackle on the Chargers offensive line. His position as the starter was also further solidified by Harbaugh’s comments during his presser. He states “I think Trey is one of our five best right now…that includes Joe Alt on our football team.”
He follows this statement up with another massive compliment to the player they likely just replaced; “His athleticism is also that freaky athleticism…I would [believe] there’s a spot on the starting five for Trey Pipkins.”
So if all the players on the Chargers offensive line are likely to be safe in their starting positions, what does this mean for Joe Alt? Do the Chargers just roll with the starting five that they had before the draft? Just letting the 21-year-old left tackle spend a year developing his skillset as a right tackle doesn’t sound all too bad… if they didn’t desperately need a wide receiver and Malik Nabers was right there at pick five. All in all, there are still days two and three of the NFL Draft left. Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz have time to finish the plan they had in place.
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