It's not a stretch to say that Justin Herbert is the most valuable member of the Chargers roster.
And with that in mind, protecting No. 10 thereby becomes one of the most important roles of anybody in the Bolts locker room.
It's a good thing Rashawn Slater is excellent at his job.
The Chargers on Sunday announced that they have agreed to terms with the left tackle on a multi-year contract extension, a move that will protect Herbert's blindside for the foreseeable future while keeping one of the Bolts best players in powder blue.
A team captain and quiet leader in the locker room, Slater is beloved by his teammates.
"Rashawn is such a great teammate, great locker room guy," Herbert said last season. "He's competitive, very smart, very intelligent."
Fellow tackle Joe Alt told Chargers.com last season that Slater played a key role in his success as a rookie.
"[He's] taught me a ton," Alt said. "Rashawn being able to have so much experience and being right there with me and being able to watch the film has been such a big help for me.
"It's allowed me to see what things in my game I need to work and what things I'm trying different that don't need to be added," Alt added.
Besides being the consummate professional, Slater also perfectly fits the mold of what Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh are looking for on the field.
Slater, although quiet off the field, brings a fiery demeanor to the field and loves to push people around.
He's damn good at it, too.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Slater was also an All-AFC selection this past season and likely should have been an All-Pro honoree.
Slater was simply fantastic in 2024 as he posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 91.1, a mark that ranks second among all offensive tackles.
He also posted a 90.4 pass-blocking grade, which ranked third among tackles. And his 82.8 run-blocking grade ranked fifth among players in his position group.
It was Slater's best season as a pro. But if you've been paying attention, he certainly isn't a one-year wonder.
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Slater has essentially played three full seasons. He only played three games in 2022 due to a torn left biceps.
But if we look at the 2021, 2023 and 2024 seasons, Slater has proven himself to be among the best offensive linemen in the league.
His overall PFF grade in those three seasons is 89.6, which ranks 20th among all players with at least 2,400 snaps. That mark is seventh among all offensive linemen and is fifth among tackles.
Slater's 88.3 PFF pass-blocking grade in those three seasons ranks third among offensive tackles. And his 78.2 run-blocking grade is 15th overall.
Take a look at some of the best photos of the newest Charger, Rashawn Slater!!
Oh yeah, Slater is also only just 26 years old, meaning his best football is likely ahead of him.
Those inside The Bolt know the value Slater brings to the field each and every week, especially since the Chargers leave him on a 1-on-1 island more often than not.
"That's what you try to do with a premier left tackle," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said during the 2024 season. "It's like a great corner … match him up on this guy and shove the coverage over here.
"A great tackle, you can match him up on that guy and divert the protection elsewhere," Roman added. "It's a huge, huge, huge benefit."
Chargers offensive line coach Mike Devlin concurred with Roman.
"I think he's a master technician with he approaches the game," Devlin said. "I think his thought process and he's really mentally tough and strong, but he's a pro's pro. He's consistently doing everything right every day."
From a big-picture perspective, NFL teams need a franchise quarterback to compete in the NFL.
They also usually need elite weapons around him, even if that player is a left tackle.
The Chargers have just that in Slater, who now can continue to be a pillar on the Bolts offensive line for years to come.
