Pro Football Focus also ranked the Chargers’ offensive line 30th in the league, and injuries to star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater only worsened interior pressure against Herbert. The combination of poor protection and injury-related volatility underscored a clear area for immediate improvement.
With Alt and Slater expected to be ready for 2026, Los Angeles can shift its focus to reinforcing the interior of the line. Mason Cameron of PFF cites guard Kevin Zeitler as the best potential offseason target, noting Zeitler’s elite performance in the final six games of the previous season and his durability across a long career.
Zeitler posted a 89.3 PFF pass-blocking grade over those final six regular-season games and last played for the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal, delivering a 75.4 pass-block grade in that span. At 36 years old, he could be a cost-effective, high-impact upgrade who has appeared in at least 15 games in every season since 2015.
A move for Zeitler would come with a favorable cap situation for Los Angeles, which is reportedly tracking nearly $90 million in cap space for the 2026 free-agent period. The plan would be to upgrade the guard spots—likely elevating Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton from the lineup and providing Herbert with more reliable protection.
The Chargers have also announced a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, who has expressed optimism about Herbert’s continued development and emphasized keeping him upright to maximize the passing game. Together, the front office and coaching staff appear poised to address interior protection and support a more efficient offense in 2026.
This assessment reflects reporting from Heavy Sports.
