# Garrett Podell: In an unsigned piece on Justin Herbert's fit in Mike McDaniel's new Chargers offense, CBS Sports projects the 2026 Chargers offensive line starters: Rashawn Slater at left tackle, Jake Slaughter at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Cole Strange at right guard and Joe Alt at right tackle.

**Claimed:** Aug 3, 2026
**Pundit:** Garrett Podell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/garrett-podell
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/justin-herbert-mike-mcdaniel-chargers-offense-analysis/

5 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> Los Angeles' 2026 offensive front features healthy versions of Slater and Alt, 2026 second-round pick Jake Slaughter slotting in at left guard, Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz arriving from Washington in free agency and former New England Patriots first-round pick Cole Strange filling the right guard spot.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Joe Alt to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Tyler Biadasz to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tyler Biadasz, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Cole Strange to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Cole Strange, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Rashawn Slater to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Joe Alt — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/joe-alt
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter
- Tyler Biadasz — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-biadasz
- Cole Strange — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cole-strange
- Rashawn Slater — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rashawn-slater

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Roling on Los Angeles Chargers: Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d4c64a5c-84bf-4ed6-9779-882e9a8fb212 (scored 30.95)
- Pete Prisco on Los Angeles Chargers: Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973 (scored 0)
- Shanna McCarriston on Los Angeles Chargers: The unsigned CBS Sports preview picks the Chargers to beat the Cardinals 27-17 in Week 1, and expects rookie Jake Slaughter to step in at center for Los Angeles after Tyler Biadasz's injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/77fd63b2-8b02-46a8-a1f9-dc052aa896c6 (scored 45.24)
- Simon Hunter on Los Angeles Chargers: Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5ac46502-b65b-469b-befc-16fbc672b011 (scored 0)
- Brandon Deutsch on Los Angeles Chargers: Deutsch streamed the Chargers defense in Week 1, forecasting a blowout win of more than 20 points over the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cc329622-3510-4f49-925b-ef46ad069d42 (scored 0)
- John Granato on Los Angeles Chargers: John backed the Texans to beat the Bills in Week 1, and during the contest segment said he saw the Chargers outscoring the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7e5667ab-d120-4333-bd33-74701c5f467f (scored 0)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
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