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Justin Herbert’s offensive line can get an upgrade in the offseason
The Los Angeles Chargers are doing whatever it takes to help Justin Herbert succeed in the NFL.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has mentioned that he wants to get the former Oregon Duck into the Hall of Fame, but the first step is getting past the AFC wildcard round.
Herbert has played in three playoff games and has lost all of them. Now, with some changes to the coaching staff, it is time to focus on the rest of the team around him.
The quarterback has been one of the most sacked QBs in the league the past two seasons and the team will look to lower that number.
With the NFL Draft approaching soon, one NFL analyst believes that is the way to help Herbert.
Bolstering The Front Five
GettyJustin Herbert’s sack number may go down in the next season
The Los Angeles Chargers’ interior offensive line was one of the worst in the league, which makes it a high priority for the team in the upcoming offseason.
Luckily, for the team, two of those players were in the final year of their contracts, allowing the team to use resources to add some quality up front.
After losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC wildcard, the Bolts were officially locked in as the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN Field Yates released his latest mock draft, predicting that Los Angeles will reinforce the O-line by selecting Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane.
“No fan base needs to be reminded less on the importance of offensive line play and health than the Chargers’ faithful. Los Angeles allowed 60 sacks last season while quarterback Justin Herbert was hit more than any other signal-caller. The return of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater from injury will go a long way, as will the hiring of Mike McDaniel at offensive coordinator, but the interior needs reinforcements,” Yates wrote.
“Enter Ioane, a no-nonsense, rugged guard who is perhaps the most physical offensive player in the class. He’s a body-mover as a run blocker and terrific in pass protection, not allowing a single sack over the past two seasons.”
Getting Ioane will make Justin Herbert’s life a lot easier after his 2025 season. The Nittany Lion received an 87 pass block grade and a 78.6 run block grade, which are both in the top 25 in the country out of almost 700 qualifying guards.
Herbert had a lack of production the last few seasons, with poor offensive line play contributing to his lackluster numbers. Adding Ioane will at least give the quarterback time to scan the field and hopefully produce more numbers.
ESPN ranks Ioane as the 15th-best prospect of the upcoming draft.
New Members of Coaching Staff
GettyThe Bolts coaching staff has a new look
Former offensive coordinator Greg Roman was released from his duties with the Los Angeles Chargers after two poor playoff performances.
Filling in his place, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was hired as the next OC, who will be crucial for Justin Herbert and the offense.
Alongside releasing Roman, LA also let go of former offensive line coach Mike Devlin. Now, McDaniel gets to bring someone with whom he has familiarity.
The Bolts hired Butch Barry to become the new O-line coach, who was most recently the Dolphins’ offensive line coach for the previous three seasons.
With key pieces like Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, with the possibility of adding Olaivavega Ioane, the Chargers’ offensive line can go from one of the worst to one of the best in the league.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
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