Bolts From The Blue
Who will be named the best Chargers offensive tackle of the century?
It’s time to start picking our two bookends on the offensive line!
The Chargers have had a mixed bag at offensive tackle since 2000. They had a strong pair of starters during those glory years with LaDainian Tomlinson and then went through a bit of a carousel until they found another pair of starters in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt in rather quick succession.
Seeing as Joe Alt — no matter how talented he obviously is through one season — he isn’t making the cut for this poll. Slater, on the other had, has surely done enough in his first four years to warrant consideration.
Curious to see who else made the cut? Let’s go ahead and get to the poll!
Marcus McNeill (2006-2011)
McNeill was a second-round pick for the Chargers out of Auburn back in 2006. He started immediately at left tackle and played a key role in helping LaDainian Tomlinson set the all-time single-season touchdown record. Despite being a lineman, McNeill finished fourth in the AP Rookie of the Year running.
He was a fixture on the blindside for the majority of his tenure with the Chargers before injuries took a toll on him during the 2011 campaign. He would end up retiring after that season.
Rashawn Slater (2021-present)
The Chargers drafted Slater with the 13th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He wasted little time in being name a Second-Team All-Pro in his first year after helping the Chargers to a 9-8 season under first-year head coach Brandon Staley. Most recently, Slater helped lead the Chargers to an 11-6 season in 2024 which also led to his second Pro Bowl nomination.
Jeromey Clary (2006-2014)
The Chargers found a gem in Clary as a sixth-round pick out of Kansas State. He ended up going from day three pick to starting 93 games for the Chargers over his seven-year career, missing only nine games total during that span.
Shane Olivea (2004-2007)
Another late-round find by the Chargers, Olivea was drafted in the seventh round after winning a national championship with Ohio State. He started immediately, earning nods in 31 of his first 32 games with the Bolts. In 2004, he was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He played four solid years for the Chargers before being released in 2008.
