The Chargers’ offensive line already looks like a problem, and it’s not hard to see why the front office could be eyeing the 2027 NFL Draft for help.
Against the Arizona Cardinals in their first game, Justin Herbert was sacked three times. The ground game never really got going either, finishing at 3.9 yards per carry with a 42.9 percent success rate. All of that happened while Los Angeles shuffled Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins III at left guard.
That kind of rotation usually says plenty. Sometimes it means neither player has clearly won the job.
Sometimes it means the offense is inviting communication issues every time the ball is snapped. Either way, it’s not the cleanest setup.
New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wants athleticism and quick feet from his linemen, especially inside at guard. His zone-heavy system asks blockers to fire out fast, move laterally, and carve out lanes on the fly.
That was part of the thinking behind drafting Jake Slaughter and planning to move him to guard. With his movement skills and center background, he looked like a natural fit for that kind of role. But Slaughter is back at center now, which leaves Awosika and Pipkins in the mix - and neither one looks like an ideal McDaniel-style answer.
That’s where Iowa’s Kade Pieper comes in.
When you watch Pieper, it’s easy to picture him in a Chargers uniform. He’s a classic Iowa interior lineman: 6-foot-3 and 298 pounds, undersized by NFL standards, but athletic enough to make up for it. Iowa’s run game is built on a zone scheme too, and Pieper fits that mold.
He has the speed and agility to get to the second level, and he plays with plenty of force. But his value isn’t limited to run blocking.
Pieper is also a very sturdy pass protector. He gets his hands on defenders quickly, keeps his feet active, and shows a natural anchor.
In fact, his pass protection may be the stronger part of his game, because his physical style on the move can sometimes leave him on the turf.
That same edge would likely play well with Jim Harbaugh, while the movement skills are the kind of thing McDaniel would appreciate.
Right now, Pieper carries a grade of 75, which puts him in top-100 territory and more in the second-round range than the fourth. Interior linemen often slide in the draft - Emmanuel Pregnon is one example - but there are times when teams move them up board because the fit is too good to pass on. Slaughter and Keylan Rutledge both went about a round earlier than expected last year.
That’s the reality with offensive line help: the need can outstrip the supply, and the right fit can matter as much as raw talent. For the Chargers, landing Pieper might require their second-round pick in 2027, and depending on how the 2026 season and draft process unfold, maybe even their first selection.
If he’s the player who helps finish the line and gives Herbert more time while the run game develops, that price would be easy to justify.
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