Chargers bring in former fourth-round pick following devastating Rashawn Slater news

Travis Wakeman

Chargers bring in former fourth-round pick following devastating Rashawn Slater news image

The Los Angeles Chargers have a new offensive tackle, signing former fourth-round pick David Sharpe following the season-ending injury suffered by franchise left tackle Rashawn Slater. 

Though there are veteran options with bigger names on the market, the Chargers have gone the more frugal route in bringing Sharpe, likely just to get through the remainder of the preseason.

Sharpe is the definition of a journeyman offensive lineman. Drafted in the fourth round by the Raiders in 2017, he spent just one season there. He then signed with the Houston Texans, where he spent the 2018 season, before going back to the Raiders. 

Sharpe has also played for the Washington Football Team, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and most recently, the New York Jets. He has appeared in 45 career games with six starts to his credit. 

In Los Angeles, Sharpe will come in and be part of the rotation at offensive tackle. Joe Alt will likely switch to Slater's left tackle position when the season kicks off and former third-round pick Trey Pipkins will go to the right spot. 

READ: Chargers get Terry McLaurin on the cheap in this trade proposal

The team will be looking to fill the swing tackle spot that was expected to be held by Pipkins this season, and Sharpe will be part of that mix along with Jamaree Salyer, Ryan Nelson and Corey Stewart. 

Salyer will get the start at left tackle in Sunday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. A strong performance there could solidify that spot for him. 

In another recent transaction, the Chargers signed tight end Thomas Yassmin and released tight end McCallan Castles

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.