2026 NFL Draft: Why the Chargers selected OL Jake Slaughter

The Chargers have added to the interior of their offensive line, selecting Florida center Jake Slaughter with the 63rd overall pick.

Chargers legend Shawne Merriman read the card and announced Slaughter as a guard, despite the Gator alum having a grand total of 0 snaps at guard in his college career. Slaughter played all 2,142 snaps at center over five years at Florida.

He did play some guard at the Senior Bowl, but struggled in those reps and was looked at by most analysts as a pure center.

"I wouldn't say it's the first time I've ever [played guard]," Slaughter said of his experience at the position at the NFL Combine. "I did it a little bit in college, did it a little bit in high school. We just always had great depth at guard, needed to play center and get better at playing center. I look forward to training more at guard, I've been training and getting ready for stuff like this. There's a lot of differences. The spacing is what gets me. I'm used to this guy is right on me right now. Getting out in space a little bit more, getting hands on guys, there's some different body types you'll see at guard too that you're not necessarily gonna see in the A-gap. It's a lot of fun. A new challenge."

A new challenge for a Chargers team that desperately needs better play at the guard position and entered the draft with Trevor Penning as the slated starter at left guard.

Described as a "do-your-job" player by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Slaughter is a veteran processor on the line and is a controlled athlete. But he lacks standout physical traits and must rely more on technique and that veteran ability to win reps, which will now likely come at a new position.

Chargers center Tyler Biadasz has also only ever played center in college and in the NFL, and the Chargers signed him to a three-year, $30 million contract this offseason. But Los Angeles also structured that deal such that they can cut Biadasz after June 1 next offseason and save $5 million, or release him after 2027 and save $10 million. That seems to pencil Slaughter in as the starter-in-waiting at that center spot while the Chargers try him at guard in the meantime.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Why the Chargers selected OL Jake Slaughter with the 63rd pick