2021 NFL Draft: Washington trades up for Justin Fields in NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
Scouting Report. OT. Rashawn Slater. 13. Pick Analysis. Northwestern. 13. player
If I had a $1 for every time I mocked the Chargers taking an offensive lineman in the last five years I could probably buy a ticket to almost any game in any stadium. It would be the last seat in the upper deck, but still. Every year, there’s a need for an offensive lineman within the Chargers’ organization. Sometimes they end up taking one and injuries de-rail the plans, other times it doesn’t work out and then some years they just ignore the problem.
During the 2020 season, we saw flashes of what Justin Herbert could be, but he needs to stay healthy to reach his potential, and that includes not running for his life every play. Currently, the Chargers are set to have 2019 third-round pick Trey Pipkins at left tackle and veteran Bryan Bulaga at right tackle while the entire interior of their line was added in free agency with Oday Aboushi, Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler.
What the Chargers need to do is add another tackle. Bulaga is getting up there in age and an upgrade over Pipkins wouldn’t be awful. Here, they do just that with Rashawn Slater. Slater can take over either tackle position and be a stable force in front of Herbert. Being the second tackle off the board, there will be some added pressure, but he can live up to it.