The Los Angeles Chargers face a pivotal off-season in the trenches as Rashawn Slater’s injury and Zion Johnson’s unclear 2026 status thrust internal line decisions into the spotlight. Slater’s $ major investment complicates the path forward, while Joe Alt’s left-side shift and Trey Pipkins III stepping in keep the protection afloat in 2025. Ballentine’s take centers on Johnson as the franchise’s interior anchor to re-sign in free agency, arguing his elite tools could cement the guard spot if he proves it in year two under Harbaugh’s system. If Johnson isn’t retained, the Chargers could pivot to drafting interior linemen early in 2026, reshaping Herbert’s pocket and the team’s run game balance. The question is whether they prioritize continuity or risk a wholesale upgrade to stabilize a young, high-cost unit.

Beyond Johnson, the piece underscores the fragile continuity of the line as Slater’s injury-induced absence accelerates Alt’s transition to left tackle and tests Pipkins’ versatility at right tackle. The Chargers’ cap reality and past commitments to Slater and Alt amplify the strategic weight of Johnson’s decision. As free agency nears, the Bolts’ playbook for 2026 hinges on whether Johnson can realize his first-round potential or if the team bets on youth and draft capital to reshape the interior. Either path will redefine Herbert’s protection and the offense’s ceiling in fantasy-dependent terms.