Haven’t seen much speculation about this, surprisingly.

With Alt’s performance in 25 + high likelihood he is healthy faster than Slater + a new offense/OC, I think we are gonna have a dilemma over who the LT should be.

Alt might be a team player and go back to RT after Slater is healthy, but if he is counting dollars he will make the case that he is the better LT, and he might not be wrong.

Personally I think the team is better served with the smaller, more technical Slater at LT with the larger, stronger Alt at RT.

However, Alt will probably be a better LT, even if Slater is 100%.

What do you think? Both players are high-character guys so the actual drama will be minimal, but I’m worried we might have to ship Slater off in the next two years just to make room for Alt

28 comments
  1. This is a very good problem to have. I’m definitely more worried about them both being healthy than who starts where on that OL.

  2. There’s no drama, Alt can play both. Moving Slater this late in his career would be idiotic. The only issue is Slater has to prove himself all over again due to the unique injury he suffered.

  3. Can see a world where Joe Alt Is the left tackle now. The drafted him and slater may not be the same after the knee

  4. I think the LT is slater’s until it is not. What I mean by that is if the injury prevents him from returning to form, then he moves, otherwise it is his.

    They will probably experiment with him at some other spots just to see what he can do if he isn’t LT but just as a look.

  5. Alt is top 5 at the position at both RT and LT. Wherever he plays he will be paid accordingly and if nobody breaks Slater’s AAV record by the time he needs to be paid, he will certainly do it. He’s gunna get his money.

  6. I don’t think it matters much. They’re both capable of playing either position. The pay gap between left and right tackle also isn’t what it used to be. They’re both team players and will happily do what the team deems best.

  7. No drama, slater will never be the same. Alt is new left tackle. Slater can either shift over to right tackle or slide inside to left guard. The hx of slaters injury suggests he will never be athletically what he was.

  8. It doesn’t really matter anymore right, edge rushers play both sides? You need both to be super strong. If there is any medical advantage for Slater’s knee to be on the right side, I think it’d be a professional mistake for him and the org not to consider it

  9. I mean Slater already got paid, so it would be nice if he just went along with whatever works for us.

  10. Alt looks like a generational LT. I don’t mind Slater to the right side, he has played RT in college.

  11. This is a tricky one because Alt will likely be better than Slater after that patellar injury. At the same time, Slater will be more comfortable at LT since that’s where he’s been playing.

    I think Alt will serve us better at RT but we’ll need to see how Slater looks when he comes back – there’s always the risk of reinjury with Slater so Alt might end up at LT at some point next season

  12. Alt – Slater – Linderbaum – loane – Salyer

    I actually think for the sake of Slater’s career…he should slide inside to guard next to Alt but that’s my opinion.

  13. Here’s my question: when Slater comes back, how is he going to be laterally? If he can’t move the way he used to prior to the injury, then he may be a liability at either OT spot.

    That should be the more important question to be answered. If he can, then either way we are good at OT. As long as he can.

  14. Everyone and their momma knows Alt is a true All Pro LT. If the chargers won’t give him that pay any other team will. So if Hortiz is smart they will just pay him what he’s worth and let him play wherever Jim sees fit.

  15. It literally doesn’t matter. LT, RT–both matter and both will be great at either position. Its not going to devalue them. A lot of teams put their best EDGE rusher over the RT.

    Lets say Alt plays RT and stays as good as he is. Do you think a team that wants a top-dollar LT wouldn’t pay Joe Alt for that position? Of course theyll dish out the money for him

  16. Other than slaters rookie season, neither has been healthy for an entire year so I think it’s really going to come down to who is healthier down the road and in this coming season.

Leave a Reply