Los Angeles Chargers' important advantage for 2025 season will make HC Jim Harbaugh even happier than he could've imagined

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 10:15 PM ET

Offensive line play rules the NFL. It's clear that when you look at the most successful OL units on an annual basis - team success and wins follow. For the Los Angeles Chargers, they boast one of the most impressive offensive tackle duos in the entire NFL.

Dynamic duo on Chargers offensive line

The Chargers actually have an abundance of riches when it comes to their offensive tackle group. Rashawn Slater has proven to be one of the top offensive tackles in football for multiple years in a row now.

Meanwhile, Joe Alt has stepped up opposite him. Alt was really impressive as a rookie last season, and Pro Football Focus took notice.

Breakout candidates for every team in the AFC West pic.twitter.com/3JgrzauFdj
— PFF (@PFF) July 1, 2025

Last year’s fifth overall pick proved very quickly that he belongs on the NFL stage. His 75.9 PFF overall grade was a top-25 mark among qualified offensive tackles and led all rookie tackles by a wide margin. It's even more impressive since Alt played right tackle, a position he didn’t take a single snap at in college.

By the end of the season, Alt was already the eighth-best right tackle in the NFL by PFF overall grade. If he ever needs to fill in for Rashawn Slater on the other side, he is perfectly capable. In fact, he played left tackle in Week 18 against Las Vegas and earned an 83.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, his highest in any game last season. -- PFF

Alt's performance as a rookie should have instilled a lot of confidence in head coach Jim Harbaugh and his offensive staff. With that, expectations are deservedly high for the young OT and his unit, who made some upgrades and depth additions this offseason.

As for Slater, a contract extension could happen sooner rather than later for him. This is a contract year for the tackle, and the Chargers would be smart to get his extension on the books before they actually have to in order to keep other teams from getting a chance to poach him away.

Last season, Slater ranked 22nd among qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (90.7%) and 10th in run block win rate (78.6%). Los Angeles has a few linemen who will be free agents after 2025, including Zion Johnson and Trey Pipkins III, but there's no question that Slater is the one it needs long term. -- Aaron Schatz, ESPN

According to OverTheCap, the Chargers currently have just over $27 million in cap space as we enter July. That's plenty of room to work. Slater's cap hit for this season is just over $19M.

Joe Alt doesn't need a breakout season

Here's the thing about Alt's projection here, though. He does not actual need to break out. He's already done it. The jail cell has been unlocked. The front door is wide open. The window's been bashed in.

However you want to put it - Alt arrived as a rookie last season, and there is little reason to believe he will take a step back in 2025 with a stronger core interior offensive line alongside him.