Welcome to Part 4 of our 2024 positional recaps, a series that will run through the next few weeks and highlight 11 Chargers position groups. We'll focus on key stats, memorable moments and look to what lies ahead in 2025.
The Chargers offensive line saw some reshuffling before the season and even endured some mixing and matching during the season, too.
But one of the biggest takeaways of the season for the group after the 2024 season? They know they have one of the best tackle duos in the league.
Both Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt were stellar in their first season together, often facing stiff competition throughout the year.
Slater put together arguably his best season yet in Year 4, making the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season. The Bolts put a lot of trust in him and he delivered, as he was left on an island roughly 65 percent of the time, according to Pro Football Focus data.
Meanwhile Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in last year's draft, made the transition to right tackle look seamless and was PFF's highest-ranked rookie tackle in offense (77.6), pass-blocking (79.4) and run-blocking grades (71.6). He also finished with a 94.3 percent pass-block win rate, according to ESPN, which was the fourth-highest mark among offensive tackles in the regular season.
The rookie credited Slater for helping him get up to speed in the NFL every week, as the two were able to elevate each other's games.
"Being able to communicate and talk to a guy every single day who plays at such a high level," Alt said about Slater. "In my opinion, the best left tackle in the [league].
"Being able to talk with him and pick his brain about what he did as a rookie and how what he's doing in his career has been huge for me," Alt added.
With the addition of Alt in last year's draft and the signing of center Bradley Bozeman in free agency, that meant Trey Pipkins III kicked inside to right guard, a position he had never played prior to this season.
Pipkins started 15 games at the position, with both Jamaree Salyer and Sam Mustipher also filling in that role at various points throughout the year, while Zion Johnson started at the other guard spot.
Overall as a team, the Bolts finished tied for seventh in PFF's pass blocking grade (73.3). They did finish 21st in run blocking (63.4), however, an area that Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh talked about last week in his year-end press conference.
"We're always going to want to be better in every single area you could possibly talk about in situational football or the phases," Harbaugh said last week about the run blocking. "But I thought we had significant improvement in the run game. And I thought that helped lead to Justin [Herbert] having his highest quarterback rating of his career."
While the first season for the group under Harbaugh saw various high and low points throughout the season, whether it be in the run game or the pass, the group stayed together and felt as though they made some strides as the season went on.
"We took some steps. There was obviously a process early on," Slater said during locker room cleanout. "The first couple weeks were sloppy, but I do feel like we took strides throughout the year.
"We dealt with a lot of adversity, moving parts ... I'm very proud of the group," Slater added. "We got better every single week. Great room to be a part of."
The group was rounded out by both Foster Sarell and Brenden Jaimes, who both saw limited offensive action during the season.
Notable Number
Slater was at his best in 2024.
The fourth-year tackle had the highest Pro Football Focus offense grade of any season in his career with a 91.1. The number was also good for the second best among tackles in the NFL and first in the AFC.
He also allowed 22 pressures this past season, which was the fewest he's allowed in a full season.
Memorable Moment
With the Chargers on the cusp of a playoff berth, the offensive line turned in their best performance of the season in Week 17 against the Patriots.
The unit, consisting of Slater, Johnson, Bozeman, Salyer, Mustipher and Alt, kept Herbert upright, allowing zero sacks of the quarterback. Salyer and Mustipher split time at right guard in New England.
They also helped the offense rush for 147 yards, with 76 of them coming from J.K. Dobbins in his return from Injured Reserve with a knee injury. It was their highest total up to that point since Week 11.
It all added up to a dominant 40-7 road win and a spot in the postseason.
"I thought that was the best offensive line play we've had the entire season," Harbaugh said after the game in New England.
Regular-Season Stats
Bradley Bozeman
Played and started in all 17 games; played 1,057 offensive snaps (99.06 percent)
Zion Johnson
Played and started in all 17 games; played 1,047 offensive snaps (98.1 percent)
Joe Alt
Played in 16 games (16 starts); played 1,011 offensive snaps (94.8 percent)
Rashawn Slater
Played in 15 games (15 starts); played 904 offensive snaps (84.7 percent)
Trey Pipkins III
Played in 15 games (15 starts); played 838 offensive snaps (78.5 percent)
Jamaree Salyer
Played in 17 games (four starts); played 340 offensive snaps (31.9 percent)
Sam Mustipher
Played in 12 games (one start); played 105 offensive snaps (9.8 percent)
Foster Sarell
Played in 11 games; played 40 offensive snaps (3.7 percent)
Brenden Jaimes
Played in nine games; played 10 offensive snaps (0.9 percent)
1 Question for 2025
What do the Chargers do at center?
The interior of the Bolts offensive line will be a topic during the offseason.
Bozeman, who started in all 17 games and played almost all of the offensive snaps, is slated to be one of the 30 free agents once the New League Year begins on March 12.
A team captain in his first season with in powder blue, Bozeman was big as both a leader and a teammate for Herbert at the center spot. The veteran center made it clear in Houston after the playoff loss that he loved playing for the Chargers and that he wanted to be back.
Harbaugh talked about the Bolts starting center this past year.
"He did a heck of a job. One thing that stood out in my mind, maybe more than other things, is that he played 18 games," Harbaugh said about Bozeman last week. "I don't think anyone played more snaps, I think he played the most snaps on offense. You want guys like that back."
Of course, it remains to be seen what the Chargers do at the position, as bringing back Bozeman doesn't mean he would be the starting center with his flexibility along the interior.
It will be something to monitor and, as General Manager Joe Hortiz said in his season-ending press conference, will take some time to figure out.
"Like Coach said, we want everyone back," Hortiz said. "We'll talk to Bradley and his representatives. Obviously, we have to assess everything. But those dialogues, I already had conversations with Bradley, and we'll continue them.
"It's a long process. The season ends and free agency doesn't begin until March 12. You work towards it," Hortiz added. "We'll have open dialogue with all our players, not just Bradley. Every player on this roster. We'll see what we can do."
