As Rashawn Slater enters the final year of his rookie deal, all signs point to the Pro Bowl left tackle becoming one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL history. According to CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan, Slater is poised to cash in—whether with the Los Angeles Chargers or on the open market.
“Slater was the 13th overall pick at the 2021 NFL Draft and has been Justin Herbert’s primary blindside tackle,” Sullivan writes. “He’s currently slated to play the 2025 season on his fifth-year option and faces unrestricted free agency in 2026. Whether it’s with the Chargers or somewhere on the open market, Slater should soon be among the highest-paid tackles in the league.”
It’s not hard to see why. In 2024, Slater earned a 91.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus—second-best among all NFL tackles—and ranked third in pass-blocking. He allowed just 22 pressures and three sacks across 903 snaps, further cementing his reputation as an elite protector. Over four seasons, Slater has made 51 starts, earned two Pro Bowl nods, and was named second-team All-Pro as a rookie.
Chargers Contract Talks With Rashawn Slater Already Started
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz recently confirmed that extension talks have begun. “I love Rashawn. And Rashawn is a great player, and he helps us win football games, so I’d love Rashawn to be around for a long time,” he told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.
But the price tag won’t be small. Slater’s projected market value sits at $25.5 million per year, potentially netting him a five-year deal worth over $127 million. That would place him just behind Detroit’s Penei Sewell ($28M AAV) as one of the most expensive offensive tackles in football.
With a healthy cap outlook—$70 million in space this offseason and a projected $224 million available in 2027—the Chargers can afford to keep Slater. But they’ll need to act fast. If they wait too long, the rising salary cap and Slater’s sustained dominance could make retaining him even more expensive—or impossible.
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