2021 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Miami Dolphins trade back again
By Dakota Cox
2021 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
The Los Angeles Chargers would love to add one of the top weapons to their roster. Without someone like Alabama football’s Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith sliding, you have to think they will look for another way to help Justin Herbert progress. That means drafting an offensive tackle.
Slater has been spoken in the same breath as Penei Sewell. Some even believe that he is the best tackle in this class. That being said, he will likely slide. Linemen are becoming less valuable as spread offenses are becoming more popular, and Slater will likely be drafted behind five quarterbacks and at least three skill players. He is better than this landing spot suggests, but he is likely to slide just because of the talent ahead of him.
The Chargers managed to go from Phillip Rivers to Justin Herbert. Only the Colts have been luckier in terms of transitioning from one quarterback to the next. It’s so hard to solve the quarterback problem, but the Chargers did so immediately. They now need to build around him. They have good receivers and a solid running back, but the offensive line is weak. They saw what happened to their divisional rival in the Super Bowl when his offensive line broke down. No matter where Slater plays, he will help protect the face of the franchise.