The Los Angeles Chargers may have a lot to sort out in training camp and the preseason, but nothing looms larger than the fight for the left guard job.
That spot has become the center of attention because the Chargers used a second-round pick on Jake Slaughter, a college center they hoped could slide over to guard and handle the transition quickly. Instead of handing him the job and moving on, the team has cycled through a full group of challengers alongside him in camp, both in pads and out of them.
Some of the competition makes sense on paper. Some of it raises eyebrows.
The Chargers have mixed Slaughter in with Jamaree Salyer, Andre James, Trey Pipkins, Zion Johnson, Mekhi Becton, and Austin Deculus. That’s a wide-ranging group, and not exactly the kind of certainty a team wants when protecting Justin Herbert.
Awosika only just joined the team via free agency. Pipkins is technically the backup swing tackle.
Penning came over last year via trade and had problems making an impact. And Taylor is a former sixth-round pick who went to the practice squad after he couldn’t make the 53 as a guard under Greg Roman.
For now, the Chargers are framing the competition as a healthy one. "Hopefully we'll be able to name one sooner than later, but really I won't be mad if there's two guys who are separating themselves from the pack," Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said, according to Eric Smith & Omar Navarro of Chargers.com.
"If I can't make that decision, that's not a bad problem either. We're right in the midst of it."
Jim Harbaugh has said the goal is to settle the starter by around the second preseason game.
The early twist is that Taylor has been getting the most run. He even took first-team snaps ahead of the rest of the group at the first full-contact padded practice, which is a pretty surprising turn given where he started.
If that continues, it will force a few questions. It could mean Taylor has taken a real developmental step, or that Mike McDaniel has found a way to get more out of him in this system, or both.
And if Slaughter doesn’t win the job, the optics won’t be great. It would mean the Chargers spent a second-round pick on a player they still couldn’t trust to lock down a position that has given them trouble for a long time.
Still, the mission is clear: find the best five linemen and put them on the field. The Chargers are committed to McDaniel’s vision, and if he decides Taylor belongs there - or if Slaughter needs more time before he’s ready - that’s the path they’ll take. The decision, though, can’t wait much longer.
In Other News...
Chargers Left Guard Battle Could Be Bigger Than Fans Realize
The Chargers first unofficial depth chart of the season offered an early look at one of the quieter but important competitions on the roster, and left guard is very much up for grabs. Kayode Awosika, Branson Taylor and Jake Slaughter all surfaced as possible starters at the spot, a reminder that the line is still sorting itself out as camp moves toward the preseason.
Jim Harbaugh said Awosika has been the most consistent option there so far, but the job is far from decided. The coming preseason games will give the staff a better chance to separate the candidates, and for a team trying to settle its protection up front, this is one of those battles that could end up mattering more than it first looked. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chargers Pick Is Suddenly Back In The Spotlight
The Giants were forced to reshuffle their roster after injuries hit a few key spots, and one of the more familiar names to Chargers fans surfaced in the process. New York waived cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse and added a cluster of short-term depth pieces, including safety J.T. Woods, cornerbacks D.J. James and David Long, and offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes as it tries to steady both the interior offensive line and the defensive back room before the preseason.
For the Chargers, Jaimes is the name worth noting because the former pick is suddenly back in the spotlight after landing in a new camp situation. None of the newcomers are being brought in with Week 1 starting jobs in mind, but these late roster moves can still matter for players trying to carve out a role, and Jaimes now gets another chance to show he can provide insurance on the offensive line. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans Should Be Excited About This Rookie Deep Threat
Brenen Thompson has already given Chargers fans a reason to keep an eye on the preseason. The rookie receiver brought a track-level burst with him after stops at Texas and Oklahoma, then turned in a breakout season at Mississippi State with more than 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns before arriving in Los Angeles. Since then, he has kept flashing in team drills, drawing praise from coaches and teammates while looking like a natural fit for a passing game that can use another vertical threat.
The most encouraging part for the Chargers is that Thompson is not just running past defenders in isolated moments, he is also earning steady looks from Justin Herbert. For a young receiver, that kind of quarterback trust matters, especially in a camp where every rep can shape the depth chart. If Thompson keeps stacking those opportunities, the Chargers may have found a rookie who can stretch the field and make the offense a lot harder to defend. [Read more 🡒]