Chargers address offensive line by drafting OT Rashawn Slater
COSTA MESA — Rashawn Slater already looks like a good fit for the Los Angeles Chargers. Not only does he fill a need for a starting offensive left tackle, but he showed up for Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft in Cleveland wearing a powder blue suit.
Powder blue is not only Slater’s favorite color but it is also happens to be the primary color for the Chargers.
“I felt pretty good about them. I hadn’t talked to the Chargers on Zoom, at least not the coaches, so I was a little bit surprised from that standpoint,” said Slater, who was taken with the 13th overall pick. “At the same time, I saw the mock drafts. I try not to pay attention to them, but I knew it could be a possibility.”
Slater became the first Northwestern player to go in the top 15 since Denver took Chris Hinton fourth in 1983.
The last Wildcat to go in the first round was defensive tackle Luis Castillo in 2005, who coincidentally was taken by the Chargers.
Slater is projected as the starting left tackle going into
training camp over Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton. He is the first of nine selections by the Chargers, who have three picks on Friday, including two in the third round.
“I couldn’t have picked a better place for myself. Great young quarterback, young team and we’re going to have so many weapons,” Slater said.
Slater started all 37 games during his collegiate career (2017-19). He opted out last season due to COVID-19 concerns. According to Pro Football Focus, Slater allowed only two sacks, two quarterback hits and 19 pressures in 2018 and ‘19.
Slater’s performance against Ohio State’s Chase Young in 2019 — where he held the All-American defensive end without a sack — ended up being the defining game of his career.
General manager Tom Telesco said once Slater wasn’t selected by Detroit at No. 8, he felt good about the Chargers’ chances of getting him.
“He is a very athletic tackle and fits the scheme we’re going to run extremely well. He’s also a pretty balanced player,” Telesco said. “Everyone concentrates on the passing game but he’s a very good run blocker. He can cut off defensive ends, he can reach people and get to the second level, which is the linebackers, with really good speed and angles. He can excel in both areas.”
The Chargers’ selection of
Slater continues a massive revamp of their offensive line. After a season during which rookie Justin Herbert came under constant pressure, the Chargers signed three linemen during free agency — center Corey Linsley and guards Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi.
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is the only returning starter, but he battled injuries for most of the season. He missed six games and left three others in the first quarter.
“We are very encouraged with what we have done because that was our number one goal going into free agency and the draft. I want to control the line of scrimmage,” coach Brandon Staley said.
Slater is the first offensive tackle to be taken by the Chargers in the first round since D.J. Fluker went 11th overall in 2013. It is the second straight year and fourth time in the past seven drafts that an offensive tackle has been selected with the 13th pick.
He also comes from an athletic family. Slater’s father, Reggie, spent eight seasons in the NBA playing for the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Chargers take CB Asante Samuel Jr. in second round
The Los Angeles Chargers started day two of the NFL draft by addressing their needs in the secondary, selecting cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. with the 47th overall pick.
Samuel appeared in 32 games with 23 starts for Florida State from 2018-20. He recorded four interceptions, 29 pass breakups and 96 tackles for the Seminoles. His pass breakups led all active Atlantic Coast Conference defensive players. Samuel was a firstteam All-ACC selection last season. He picked off three passes, recovered two fumbles and had 31 tackles.
Some thought Samuel might go in the first round but at 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds, he was the eighth cornerback to be selected.
“A lot of corners got picked before me because of their size. I feel like I’m going to make them correct that sooner or later,” Samuel said. “My playmaking abilities wherever I’m at — on special teams, outside, inside — I feel like I’m just going to make plays, whether it’s a strip-sack, a strip, a fumble recovery, an interception, anything.”
Samuel is the second Florida State defensive back drafted by the Chargers over the past four drafts. Safety Derwin James was a first-round pick in 2018. James was a mentor to Samuel during his college career.
“He always wanted to play with me, and he tells me that the coaches love me. He just wanted to make sure that we ended up on the same team,” Samuel said.
New coach Brandon Staley also coached former FSU standout Jalen Ramsey when Staley was the Rams’ defensive coordinator last season.