Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive tackle is biggest remaining need

With the NFL Draft passing, Bleacher Report recently named the biggest need for every team. For the Los Angeles Chargers, it was the offensive tackle position.

The Los Angeles Chargers were one of the busier teams in the NFL Draft, as they looked to reshape their franchise after seeing two key cornerstones for many years in Melvin Gordon and Philip Rivers leave in free agency.

With Rivers leaving, the Chargers knew that they would have to take a quarterback at some point in the draft. They wasted very little time in doing so, as they selected Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick.

The Herbert selection was a somewhat risky one, as while he filled a need for the Chargers, he wasn’t considered to be a Top-10 talent. While Herbert might be the face of the franchise one day, the Chargers did need another position.

One of the weaknesses for the Chargers the last few years has been at offensive tackle. Recently, Bleacher Report named this as their biggest remaining need for the offseason.

The assessment by Bleacher Report is spot on, as the Chargers are without a proven left tackle right now, which is one of the most important positions in the NFL. This offseason, the Chargers did bring in Bryan Bulaga, however, he has been a right tackle for the Green Bay Packers for many years.

Bulaga might be asked to switch over to the left side, and while he is talented, that could be a tough switch at this point in his career. If the Chargers do switch Bulaga to the left side, then they still have an issue on the right side.

Sam Tevi is the most logical person to be the starting tackle opposite of Bulaga, but he wasn’t very good last season, as he allowed eight sacks, which was tied for fourth-most among tackles in the NFL. The Chargers could have used the sixth overall pick in the draft to draft one of the many strong offensive tackles, however, they decided against that.

With cap space and still time before the season starts, the Chargers should be looking to address this issue. If they are going to be starting a young quarterback in Herbert at some point this season, they need to protect their investment. As of now, Herbert or Tyrod Taylor could be facing some serious pressure off the edge.