The Los Angeles Chargers have hit on a few buy-low signings this offseason, but it looks like former Las Vegas Raiders first-round selection Alex Leatherwood will not be one of them.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Leatherwood allowed six pressures on 20 pass blocking snaps. His pass-blocking efficiency was 85.0 and his PFF pass blocking grade was 7.7. Those represent the worst and third-worst marks of any offensive lineman this preseason with a minimum of 20 pass blocking snaps.
Finalized pressures allowed by the Chargers' offensive line last night:
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) August 11, 2024
Leatherwood: 6(!)
Jaimes, Laing, Sarell: 2
Barnhart, Alt, Williams: 1
Leatherwood may now be more on the roster bubble than Foster Sarell for two reasons. For one, the preseason performance, which clearly gives Sarell the edge. Sarell also was asked to do far more last night, taking 12 or more snaps at left tackle, right guard, and right tackle. That he was also more successful as a pass protector despite switching to three different spots on the line is telling.
The Chargers may still keep Leatherwood as a 10th offensive lineman so they can continue to try developing him, but he'll need a stronger preseason performance the rest of the way if he hopes to avoid being a roster cut casualty.
