Los Angeles Chargers Keeping An Eye Out For Tackle Rashawn Slater

I

It’s just a voluntary series of off-season workouts, so Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater’s absence isn’t big news.

Yet.

But maybe it transforms into something bigger, as the massive Slater is entrusted with protecting quarterback Justin Herbert’s blindside and is in need of a contract upgrade.

Slater, a two-time Pro Bowler, is scheduled to earn $19.04 million this season after L.A. picked up the fifth-year option of his $35.6 million rookie deal, according to Over The Cap.

But the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Slater, a former first-round selection, has outplayed his contract and is possibly making a statement by skipping practices.

Attending the workouts are at the player’s choosing, but not participating is something Slater has never chosen to do previously. The Chargers’ mid-June minicamp is mandatory and if Slater stiff-arms those, it would not only raise a red flag but cost him more than $92,000 in fines.

Slater is among the few anchors of an offensive line that the Chargers are seeking to improve. It was exposed, especially along the interior, when L.A. was eliminated by the Houston Texans in last season’s first round of the playoffs.

The edges are set with Slater and Joe Alt at right tackle. Although Alt struggled as well in the playoff loss, his inefficiency was attributed more to him being a rookie rather than his lack of skills.

The dearth of urgency regarding Slater’s contract situation might be an organizational strategy. It’s rare that the Chargers reward a player with his second contract, or extension, until the last minute. They followed that approach with Herbert, safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Joey Bosa.

When July’s training-camp clock gets close to midnight, that’s usually when L.A. strikes deals with its players.

The Chargers have an offensive line in motion after signing free-agent Mekhi Becton to play right guard.

That could move guard Zion Johnson to center, a position he’s never played in college or the NFL, and possibly have a number of players – Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer, Bradley Bozeman, Andre James and others competing for the left guard position.

Then again, if the experiment to have Johnson at center implodes, Bozeman or James could land there, with the Chargers inserting someone at left guard.

It’s not a plug-and-play situation at the tackle spots manned by Slater, 26, and Alt, a stellar second-year pro. The issue is giving Slater a contract which matches his production.

Slater’s average annual salary of $4.1 million ranks 30th among left tackles. The leader is Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers, with a $27.5 million average per year on an $82.6 million pact.

Andrew Thomas of the New York Giants is the left tackle with the largest contract, a five-year, $117.5 million agreement which came with a $67 million guarantee.

Slater’s cap hit zoomed from $5.2 million last year to $19.04 this season, which is also a motivating factor to work out a long-term deal to soften that blow.