The NFL’s underrated offensive players in the…

(AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

There were some who believed that Slater, who missed his 2020 collegiate season as a COVID opt-out, should have moved inside to guard when he reached the NFL level. This was due to the usual height and arm length concerns, and it ignored the fact that not every player is made of the same stuff.

Slater, who absolutely handled 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young back in 2019 when Slater’s Northwestern team played Ohio State, made it very clear back then that left tackle was the position for him.

The herd: “Rashawn Slater isn’t long or agile enough to be an NFL tackle. Just move him to guard.”

Me: “That is 100% Grade-A horse hockey.”

Chase Young, probably: “Yeah, that’s a load of garbage.” pic.twitter.com/YhYJ5itNfo

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 4, 2021

The Chargers were in desperate need of help at the position, and selected Slater with the 13th pick in the 2021 draft. Unlike the Lions, who took Oregon’s Penei Sewell with the seventh pick and kept moving him around the line and stunting his developmental curve, the Chargers gave Slater a very definite mission: Hold up Justin Herbert’s blind side, and demolish anyone who’s in the way when we run the ball to your end.

So far, Slater has done both to a degree that should have him discussed as the Offensive Rookie of the year this season.

Rashawn Slater was fantastic yesterday. I’ll have a more full breakdown of it later but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an OT look at the QBs leg instead of the center for cadence in silent count. It works well. Moves Young off the ball and the Chargers run behind him for a TD pic.twitter.com/4KGAVeeS7k

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 13, 2021

Slater had a tough time against Cleveland’s pass-rushers in Week 5, allowing two sacks and two quarterback hurries, but other than that, he’s been amazing. In 553 pass-blocking snaps this season, he’s allowed those two sacks, two quarterback hits, eight quarterback hurries, and he’s been a wrecking ball as a run-blocker.