EL SEGUNDO — Left tackle Rashawn Slater joined his Chargers teammates on Tuesday for the first day of their mandatory three-day minicamp, arriving earlier in the week to prepare despite awaiting the resolution of ongoing negotiations for what figures to be a long and lucrative contract extension.
“Great to see him,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s one of our nine elite guys. You talk about football being all about training. He’s one of those elite nine that we have. He came in, in great shape. He even said the conditioning test was too easy. Too easy because he trains.”
Slater, a first-round draft pick in 2021, is in the final year of his rookie contract and conventional wisdom suggests he’ll earn a sizable bump in his next deal. If history is any guide to recent extensions for the Chargers’ top players, it might not be completed until training camp starts on July 17.
Quarterback Justin Herbert signed his five-year, $262.5 million extension on the eve of camp in 2023. Safety Derwin James Jr. signed his four-season, $76.532 extension more than a week into training camp in 2022. At the time, Herbert and James were the highest-paid players in NFL history at their positions.
Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers is the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL after signing a revised three-year contract worth $82.66 million in 2024. It’s uncertain how close or far apart Slater and the Chargers are in their talks, and whether a new deal would approach Williams’ contract.
Slater is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, including this past season; Williams is an 11-time pick.
“Everybody here, and I speak on behalf of everyone in the organization, totally supports Rashawn and we know what he’s trying to accomplish for himself and his family,” Harbaugh said. “We’re all in support of him. I just don’t worry about it (getting the contract done before camp starts).
“That’s up to Joe (Hortiz, the Chargers’ general manager) and Rashawn’s agent (to get a contract completed sooner rather than later). To quote the late (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame signer) Tom Petty, ‘(Most) things I worry about never seem to happen anyways.’ So, I don’t worry.”
MEET THE ELITE NINE
So, in addition to Slater, who are Harbaugh’s Elite Nine Chargers? Herbert, James, right tackle Joe Alt, inside linebacker Daiyan Henley, left guard Zion Johnson, outside linebacker Khalil Mack, wide receiver Ladd McConkey and outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu make up the best of the best, according to Harbaugh.
There is room for additions to the group, Harbaugh added.
“To be in that group, that’s elite and, yeah, total respect for those who are elite and total respect to guys who are attempting to get there,” he said. “I’m never shy in saying that. Some coaches are (afraid to say) how they feel about the players who are great and elite and might offend somebody by leaving somebody out. I’m sure about those nine because that’s what I see on a daily basis.”
EXTRA POINTS
Herbert’s first public comments of the offseason were delayed by one more day. He was scheduled to speak to reporters, who waited 40 minutes before he was declared a no-show because of a conflict with a post-practice weight-lifting session. He is expected to speak on Wednesday, however. … Harbaugh said he underwent hip replacement surgery and a heart ablation procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. He retreated to the Chargers’ locker room for part of the first half of their game against the Broncos in Denver on Oct. 13, the latest of several incidents in his life. “Doctors can’t find anything wrong,” Harbaugh said, smiling broadly. “I got an ‘A’ grade.’ … Willie Snead IV, a veteran wide receiver, has joined the Chargers for a tryout. He last played in the NFL with the 49ers in 2023. … The Chargers will hold training camp workouts on July 22-23 at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh got his start as a head coach. San Diego also happened to be the Chargers’ hometown from 1961 to 2016.