Chargers urged to solve crippling offensive issue in NFL Draft

Chargers urged to solve crippling offensive issue in NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a confusing team to watch this offseason, well, to me anyway.

Armed with ample cap space, the Chargers have hardly used any of it, with the franchise having over $45 million in cap space at the time of writing. So what's the plan? We aren't entirely sure.

But one aspect of it has to center around Justin Herbert and his protection. Sacked 54 times last season, Herbert can't afford to be hitting the turf as often as he did last year, so addressing the offensive line in the draft should be the way to go.

And for ESPN's Ben Solak, that is the exact problem the Chargers should solve in the draft.

"Herbert had a pressure rate of 43.3% last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats," Solak wrote. "That was the seventh highest of a quarterback (minimum 400 dropbacks) over the past decade. Just solve that."

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That might seem odd, but the Chargers have to do all they can to put the right pieces around their franchise quarterback.

It starts with the offensive line, and more pointedly, the interior has to be reinforced. Getting Tyler Biadasz was a good signing, and Rashawn Slater and returning are a welcome sight, but more is needed.