With the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers draft Rashawn Slater, offensive lineman out of Northwestern. Slater was the consensus second-best offensive line prospect in this draft, following Penei Sewell. He joins a Chargers offensive line that will be looking quite a bit different in 2021.
Rashawn Slater Highlights
Rashawn Slater NFL Draft Profile and Player Info
Rashawn Slater
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 304 lbs
Age: 22
College: Northwestern Wildcats
Rashawn Slater Draft Profile
Strengths
Rashawn Slater has elite footwork. In fact, his footwork may be the best of this draft class. Everything about Slater is fast. He quickly jumps out of his stance and beats defenders off the ball. Slater also processes the game extremely fast, adjusting to everything defenses attempt to confuse him with. He simply is a high IQ, incredible athlete at the offensive tackle position.
Weaknesses
While he is extremely fast and a good athlete, he is a bit small. His size and arm length could scare some teams away, especially those who still place high emphasis on arm length. For this reason, some team’s may look to covert him into a guard. Slater’s speed is also far more intimidating than his power. He isn’t going to be a bulldozer in the NFL. We also did not get to see Slater on the field last season, due to him opting out of the 2020 season.
RELATED | Full Rashawn Slater NFL Draft Profile and Highlights
What to Expect From Rashawn Slater in 2021
Rashawn Slater, though a bit small, is a fantastic offensive line prospect. He played out at tackle for the Wildcats, though many believe he would be a natural fit at guard in the NFL. This type of versatility is exactly what the Chargers need. It’s not secret that the offensive line for the Chargers has been an absolute disaster for quite a while. They have made it their top focus this offseason, acquiring veteran talent in free agency. Rashawn Slater gives the Chargers a Day 1 starter, and he will be able to slide between guard and tackle in the future, if the line continues to have issues with health. Overall, this is a tremendous pick, and he should be a starter for years to come.
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