Let’s make one thing clear. Harbaugh is not the only one who deserves credit for this, Joe Horitz deserves some as well. The Los Angeles Chargers have a franchise stud at QB Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh recognizes that. Past regimes and coaches have put talented playmakers around him, but the one thing they haven’t done is protect him. Herbert has been hurt several times because of that.
With their first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Joe Alt. While a lot of experts have had them selecting Brock Bowers, I have had them selecting a lineman since December 1. However, this is just step one of Harbaugh and the Chargers building an offensive line that will protect Herbert. The only bright spot on the line last season was the development of Rashawn Slater. The Chargers are likely to place Alt at Right Tackle. Those two feature a great outside, but there are still some questions about the interior. Will Corey Linsley retire due to his heart condition? Will they look to replace Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer in Free Agency?
As a former quarterback, Harbaugh understands how crucial a good offensive line is which is why he wants the Chargers to protect Herbert. With no Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen or Mike Williams… the Chargers will look different. All three of those guys are aging though, so it makes sense to move on. Especially, now with a new coach.
There were some teams interested in trading for Herbert prior to the Draft. The Chargers shut down the talks as quickly as they started.
“No. No, at the combine I had some people ask me would we consider it, and they were quickly shot down. No, that is never an option,” new GM Joe Horitz said. With the departures of Ekeler, Allen and Williams the Chargers also needed to add some talent at Receiver and Running Back. Which they have done already whether through the draft or free agency.
New Look Chargers
At the running back position, they’ve already added J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. They also drafted Kimani Vidal in the sixth round.
The Chargers drafted three wide receivers: Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson.
The Chargers probably won’t win the Super Bowl in 2024, but they should be better than 5-11 in year one of the Harbaugh era. Herbert has shown what he can do, if Horitz and Harbaugh protect him, he could be even more scary.
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