The Chargers have discussed a contract extension with left tackle Rashawn Slater, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
“We’ve had conversations,” said general manager Joe Hortiz (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “I love Rashawn. And Rashawn is a great player, and he helps us win football games, so I’d love Rashan to be around for a long time.”
Slater has been one of the league’s best left tackles since being drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. His rookie season featured Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, as well as a fourth-place finish in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. A torn biceps prematurely ended his second year, but he bounced back with a solid season in 2023 and another Pro Bowl nod in 2024.
The Chargers picked up Slater’s fifth-year option last March and are set to pay him just over $19MM this year. A long-term extension could lower his cap hit considerably, giving Los Angeles even more money for free agency next month.
Slater, who will turn 26 in March, will likely seek a top-of-the-market left tackle contract. For comparison, fellow 2021 first-rounder Christian Darrisaw signed a $26MM APY extension with the Vikings heading into his age-26 season in 2024. With another significant cap increase this offseason, Slater will likely surpass that number and could even push to match the $27.5M per-year salary of Trent Williams.
Both Hortiz and director of player personnel strategy Corey Krawiec came up in Baltimore, where the Ravens have a history of extending franchise cornerstones. Slater would certainly fall under that category as a premier left tackle, making an extension with the Chargers seem like an inevitability.