During each of his first four seasons in the NFL, Rashawn Slater attended the opening session of organized team activities. The Chargers’ left tackle has deviated from that trend in 2025, though. 
Slater was absent from the beginning of Los Angeles’ OTAs, as detailed by Gavino Borquez of ChargersWire. The move comes against the backdrop of an extension being sought in this case. The 26-year-old is currently set to play out his fifth-year option in 2025.
Since joining the Bolts as a first-round pick, Slater has handled full-time starting duties on the blindside. He earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and added another to his resume in 2024. The intervening years included a biceps tear which limited him to three games in 2022, but he managed to play a full campaign the following season. With his value to the Chargers’ offensive line well established, extension talks have unsurprisingly taken place since at least February.
Not long after the draft, it became clear team and player were still discussing a long-term pact. General manager Joe Hortiz expressed his desire for an agreement to be reached, but that is obviously not the case yet. Voluntary workouts will continue for the Chargers until mandatory minicamp takes place from June 10-12. The prospect of fines for missed time would only emerge if Slater remained absent for that event.
The Northwestern product is owed $19.04MM in 2025 as a result of Los Angeles’ decision to pick up his option last spring. That figure is guaranteed in full, but an extension will bring with it plenty more in terms of locked in compensation as well as a raise. 15 offensive tackles are currently attached to a deal averaging at least $20MM per year, with six carrying an AAV of $25MM or more. The latter group includes right tackles Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson, though, so Slater would be joining exclusive company in terms of blindside protectors if his new deal were to check in at the higher rate.
The Chargers used the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft on Joe Alt, and he operated at right tackle as a rookie. The Notre Dame product looms as a potential successor to Slater given his college experience on the opposite side, but the team would of course prefer to keep its tandem in place for years to come. Doing so will require working out a lucrative pact for Slater, and there is still clearly progress to be made on that front.