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Rashawn Slater-Chargers contract standoff gets notable take from former agent

Originally posted on Los Angeles Chargers on SI
By Andrew Parsaud | Last updated May 30, 2025 6:30 AM ET

Left tackle is one of the most important positions in football. Finding a blindside protector for a quarterback isn't easy, but the Los Angeles Chargers were able to land one for Justin Herbert in Rashawn Slater. Slater has become one of the best left tackles in the league since being drafted in 2021.

Four years later and Slater's looking for a new deal. Rightfully so, as the 26-year-old is set to play this season on the $19 million fifth-year option. Slater hasn't appeared at the Chargers' OTA practices due to their contract stalemate. So, what could a new deal for Slater potentially look like? Joel Corry, a former NFL agent, predicts a contract worth $30 million per year.

I guess the Chargers & Rashawn Slater aren't close on a new deal. At a minimum, Slater should be the 1st $30M per year OT. There really should be a massive reset of the OT market. The highest paid edge rusher shouldn't be making 42.22% more than the highest paid OT. https://t.co/5iQShZA0b8
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) May 28, 2025

Looking at the top left tackle contracts in the NFL, Tampa Bay's Tristan Wirfs (five years, $140.6M) and New York's Andrew Thomas (five years, $117.5M) lead the way. On a per year basis, Wirfs still leads the way with an average annual value of $28.1 million. If $30 million per year is where Slater is looking to get paid, an example contract would be for five years, $150 million.

Of course, that's just a rough estimate. Seeing as how the Chargers want to make Slater happy, it wouldn't be surprising to see them go over the $150 million threshold. The market is changing and as Corry said, edge rushers shouldn't be making over 40% more than tackles. Slater should be next in line for a major payday.

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