-
Kris Rhim
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Chargers and two-time Professional Bowl left sort out Rashawn Slater agreed Sunday on a four-year $114 million contract extension that features $92 million assured, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The contract makes Slater the highest-paid offensive lineman by common annual pay in a contract in NFL historical past. Slater has been extension-eligible since final offseason, however normal supervisor Joe Hortiz and the Chargers selected to attend whereas others at his place in his 2021 draft class signed profitable extensions, together with the Detroit Lions‘ Penei Sewell (4 years, $112 million, $85 million assured) and Minnesota Vikings‘ Christian Darrisaw (4 years, $104 million, $67 million assured).
The Chargers introduced Sunday they reached an extension with Slater however didn’t disclose phrases of the contract.
When Hortiz and Harbaugh arrived final February, Slater had simply completed an inconsistent 2023 season. However in 2024, he returned to his place among the many league’s finest tackles, incomes himself a record-breaking payday.
Slater hasn’t practiced with the crew since July 18; he has been working off to the aspect with govt director of participant efficiency Ben Herbert as he works by what Harbaugh known as a minor damage. Nonetheless, his signing is among the most vital items to this Chargers crew having success.
Dominant speeding offenses have all the time buoyed Harbaugh’s groups, so having a premier offensive line is paramount. In Harbaugh’s first draft with the Chargers, he took criticism from many for the crew’s resolution to draft sort out Joe Alt at No. 5 as an alternative of a move catcher reminiscent of Malik Nabers with that choice.
“I do know the questions are going to return up, and you are going to say, ‘Properly, what a few weapon?’ Offensive linemen, we have a look at as weapons,” Harbaugh stated then. “That group, after we discuss attacking on offense, [the] offensive line is the tip of the spear.”
The San Francisco 49ers, whom he coached from 2011 to 2014, totaled 12,270 yards passing over his 4 seasons, rating thirtieth within the NFL. The speeding offense, in the meantime, ranked second in yards per sport (139.6) over that span.
This development was comparable even in Harbaugh’s last 12 months on the College of Michigan. The Wolverines’ offense ranked 81st nationally in passing yards per sport (213.7) and sixth within the Large Ten, whereas the speeding offense was third of their convention (169.1) and forty third nationally. Operating again Blake Corum led the NCAA in speeding touchdowns (27).
With Slater now tied to the Chargers by the 2029 season, maybe the Chargers’ greatest offseason storyline is behind them.