Justin Herbert & Rashawn Slater Make ESPN's Annual Top 10 Lists

Two key players from the Los Angeles Chargers, Justin Herbert and Rashawn Slater, were recently recognized in ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler's annual top 10 rankings for their positions.

Quarterback Justin Herbert was ranked No. 7 on the list. He holds the NFL record for most career passing yards through five seasons with 21,093 yards. In the 2023 season, his attempts per game decreased from 35 to 29.6 due to offensive coordinator Greg Roman's run-heavy strategy, but he achieved a remarkably low interception rate of 0.6% on 504 attempts, the best since Tom Brady in 2016. Herbert threw for 3,870 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions, posting a career-high passer rating of 101.7, and added 306 rushing yards with two touchdowns. An AFC executive praised him as underrated, stating Herbert is consistently a top 5-8 quarterback due to his accuracy, athleticism, and decision-making, and would be a high draft pick if the league restarted.

Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater secured the No. 6 spot on his position list. Voters highlighted his athleticism as an ideal fit for Roman's system, noting he had the fewest run-block losses (68) among qualifying players who appeared in at least 12 games. Slater committed only two penalties across 904 snaps and earned Pro Bowl honors. An NFC executive emphasized that Slater excels against pressure and in schemes prioritizing movement over physicality.

Additionally, rookie Joe Alt received honorable mention consideration after his first NFL season, with an AFC executive providing comments, though the specifics were not detailed in the report.