Corey Linsley is one part in the Chargers plan to protect Justin Herbert

The Chargers have a young franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, and signing Corey Linsley is the first step in enhancing his growth. 

Last season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert performed admirably yet needed offensive line protection and now has it in Corey Linsley. The former Packers center signed a five-year, $62.5 million deal per Mike Garofolo. The deal now makes Linsley the highest-paid center in the league, and he will receive $26 million over the first two years of his deal.

This is a good move for the Chargers, but it’s not the only move that should be made. As evidenced by the Super Bowl, without an offensive line to protect him, a quarterback will not thrive regardless of the weapons around him. The Chargers still have a glaring need at tackle and will likely need to address it in the draft.

Meanwhile, Linsley is an excellent building block for the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the highest-rated center in the league, and he was responsible for blocking for Aaron Rodgers. That’s a resume in and of itself.

Corey Linsley can be a vital part of Justin Herbert’s progression, but he can’t be the only one to be there.

Having Corey Linsley on the roster is a plus for the Chargers, but one man can’t block several pass rushers at once. It requires five men to do their job. Linsley is one of the better ones to have at your disposal, but he can’t do it by himself.

The Chargers’ weakest area on the team is the offensive line. Though Linsley and former Packer Bryan Bulaga are solid contributors, reinforcements are required. Thankfully in the upcoming NFL Draft, there are several offensive linemen right for the taking. While Los Angeles will likely not end up with Oregon’s Penei Sewell, Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood and Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater are good consolation pieces that can be plug and play from Day 1.

Los Angeles did the right thing by investing in the line of scrimmage and protecting their franchise quarterback. But it’s only one day, and several moves are left to be made. For now, the Chargers can say they got off to a fast start.