There Is No Saving This Chargers Offensive Line

All of this is to say, if you are a fan hoping for change, give up that hope.

The History of Offensive Line Trades

Since 2020, there have been 51 offensive line trades. While this averages out to just over 10 trades a season, the unfortunate truth is that getting a quality player in the middle of the season is extraordinarily rare. If you were to remove any sort of status from players being traded across the offensive line, but only include those traded during the season (September and onward), there have only been 8 trades. Just under two an NFL season.

Chart of all the trades that have happened since 2020, in-season.

2025 (1 Trade)

• Sep 29, 2025 – Cam Robinson (LT) to Cleveland Browns

2024 (1 Trade)

• Oct 29, 2024 – Cam Robinson (LT) to Minnesota Vikings

2023 (1 Trade)

• Oct 31, 2023 – Ezra Cleveland (G) to Jacksonville Jaguars

2022 (1 Trade)

• Sep 21, 2022 – Justin Herron (LT) to Las Vegas Raiders

2021 (1 Trade)

• Nov 02, 2021 – Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (G) to New York Jets

2020 (2 Trades)

• Oct 28, 2020 – B.J. Finney (C) to Cincinnati Bengals

• Sep 01, 2020 – David Sharpe (LT) to Washington Football Team

To put these trades in the realm of the current Chargers offensive line situation: if any team is willing to give up an offensive lineman, it will be someone who is backup caliber. Cam Robinson and Ezra Cleveland were both able to go on and play well for their respective teams once traded, with Cleveland becoming a long-term starter for the Jaguars. Robinson, on the other hand, while an upgrade at the time, ended up not being so great.

Free Agents Available

So, if trading is off the table for the Chargers (especially considering the Bolts just had a blockbuster trade that used draft picks), surely there is someone out there ready to suit up and help improve this unimpressive Chargers offensive line, right?

Here is the unimpressive list of Offensive Line Free Agents available, according to Spotrac:

Note: Names that are listed but explained as unavailable are listed to show readers names that they are throwing out there are not signing for a reason.

Guards (G):

• Brandon Scherff – Announced his retirement in August

• Shaq Mason – A veteran coming off an extremely poor season, and was arrested in August

• Jon Feliciano – Announced Retirement, but open to a playoff return

• Cody Whitehair – No retirement seems to be announced, but coming off an extremely poor season with the Raiders in 2024

• Mark Glowinski – Released by the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason; currently unsigned. Could be a Chargers offensive line option.

• Jack Driscoll – Played well in 2024 in a reserve role, but got injured. Once recovered, retirement rumors flew due to a lack of free agency interest.

• Carter O’Donnell – Playing in the CFL.

• Jack Anderson – Released by the Cowboys in May; currently unsigned.

Centers (C):

• Nick Harris – Released by Commanders; currently unsigned.

• Nick Gates – Injured, then released by the Eagles; currently unsigned. Could be a Chargers offensive line fit.

• Sam Mustipher – Currently with the Chargers.

• Doug Kramer – Released by Bears; currently unsigned.

• Wesley French – On Cowboys Practice Squad.

• Dieter Eiselen – Released by Jaguars; currently unsigned.

Tackles (T):

• Jedrick Wills – Said to sit out the 2025 season, aims for a return in 2026. Could be an intriguing off-season Chargers offensive line signee.

• Isaiah Wynn – Currently unsigned; not a scheme fit.

• Le’Raven Clark – Injured in 2024, has not signed in 2025.

• Chris Hubbard – Poor play in 2024, currently unsigned.

• D’ante Smith – Worked out for Colts in July, currently unsigned.

• Quinn Bailey – Spent 2024 season on IR, currently unsigned.

• Connor Galvin – Injured in 2024, did not return to Lions in 2025; currently unsigned.

There are a few categories nearly each player could be placed in: Veteran coming off a poor season, coming off injury, and/or simply not an NFL-caliber player.

Last Word on the Chargers Offensive Line

This exercise was quite depressing, but the hope is to show truly how bare the landscape is for the Chargers offensive line to improve. Trades (at least for an OL) are out the window, considering the lack of draft capital the Chargers have from previous trades, plus the history of trading for an offensive lineman is grim. Free agents that are available are free agents for a reason, and likely are not any better than what the Chargers have currently in-house.

To leave this article with a semblance of positivity, patience is key. Joe Alt will come back from his injury sooner or later, Trey Pipkins will hopefully recover in the same timeframe, and the same goes with Jamaree Salyer. If the interior can stay healthy, especially Mekhi Becton, the Chargers offensive line can revert back to their Week 1 selves: A viable option to keep Justin Herbert upright to deliver the ball to their playmakers.