Chargers lock in Northwestern Football alum Rashawn Slater with a multi-year extension

Bears training camp preview: Lou Canellis praises offensive line, best since 2005 | The Offseason

This week on "The Offseason," Lou Canellis joins Cassie Carlson to preview Bears training camp. The two discuss Ryan Poles' contract extension, which position group they have the most confidence in and why Lou believes Dayo Odeyingbo will be the biggest difference maker on the Bears defensive line.

The Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday agreed to a multi-year contract extension with left tackle Rashawn Slater, keeping him as Justin Herbert's protector.

What we know:

Slater has started all 52 games at left tackle since being chosen 13th overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Northwestern.

Last season, he started 16 games including the postseason, as the Chargers' offense committed eight turnovers — the fewest in franchise history and tied for the second-fewest offensive turnovers in a single season in NFL history.

As a rookie in 2021, Slater was a second-team All-Pro after leading a front that protected for the No. 4-ranked total offense in the NFL (390.2 yards per game) as Herbert threw for an AFC-best 32 touchdowns. Slater was also named the starting left tackle for the AFC in the Pro Bowl, becoming the first rookie tackle to do so since 2012.

The backstory:

Slater starred for Northwestern as its lock-down left tackle. He as a true freshman in the 2017 season, started 12 games at right tackle and was named to the 2017 Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team.

He was a third-team All-Big Ten in 2018. He was named a preseason All-American ahead of the 2020 season, but opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Charters selected Slater with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.