Pickin’ Bolts: Chargers Add Matt Slauson to OL

The Chargers have apparently reached an agreement with G/C Matt Slauson. The deal is rumored to be a 2-year deal. The money involved in the deal is unknown at this time.

Chargers signing veteran OL Matt Slauson https://t.co/fYN2JLkn16

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 7, 2016

Matt Slauson agreed to terms on a 2-year deal with the #Chargers, source said.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) May 7, 2016

Slauson isn’t a world-beater at Guard or Center, but he is quite effective. Adding Slauson at Center (flanked by Orlando Franklin and DJ Fluker at the two Guard spots and King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale at the Tackle spots) gives the Chargers’ OL tremendous respectability.

Slauson, while with a previous employer, the New York Jets, worked with Chargers new OL coach, Dave DeGugliemo, according to ProFootballRumors.com.

Beyond the afore-mentioned starting five, this deal also significantly strengthens the Chargers OL depth. The Chargers currently have the following veteran players under contract (alphabetically): OT Chris Harrison, G/C Trevor Robinson, G/C Chris Watt, and G/T Kenny Wiggins. Robinson, who did not play particularly well in 2015 is likely to be cut. Doing so would save the Chargers roughly $2.3million.

While the Chargers just drafted USC Center, Max Tuerk, Slauson adds tremendous depth and experience. Slauson’s presence on the roster will likely slow Tuerk’s acquisition of the starting Center role but Tuerk will make the team and is their center of the future.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone if one of the two Guards got hurt that Slauson would slide to Guard and Tuerk would take over at Center.

Thanks for reading and if you’re not already doing so, please follow me on Twitter: @PickinBolts

Peter Friberg

Believer, husband, father, friend, football fan, car nut…