Sure enough, the Bolts then spent the No. 5 overall pick in the draft on tackle Joe Alt after adding veteran center Bradley Bozeman to the squad in free agency.
As the Bolts get ready for camp, Harbaugh said the group of, from left to right, Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bozeman, Trey Pipkins III and Alt have “really separated themselves” as the starters.
“I think it has a chance to be a really top tier offensive line,” Harbaugh said.
He later added: “Not having a weak link is critical. I think we’re trending to really having a top to bottom outstanding offensive line.”
Something to note: the right side of the line is undergoing a position switch.
Alt played left tackle at Notre Dame but has moved to right tackle due to Slater’s dominance in that spot. And Pipkins, who spent the past few seasons at right tackle, has shifted inside to guard.
Roman quipped last week that Pipkins has thrived with the switch and that he brings a “medieval” mentality in the trenches.
“Whether it’s guard, whether it’s tackle, you can rely on him to be whatever we need him to be,” Justin Herbert said. “He’s done such a great job with that, especially in the weight room.
“His commitment, his leadership, the guy he is in the locker room, we’re glad to have guys like him on the team,” Herbert added.
Roman offered the final word on this group:
“I can’t speak highly enough of how those guys are working,” Roman said. “You can start to visualize some things you can do with those guys.
“They’re very versatile, very good athletes, they pull well, they can come off the ball and knock people back,” Roman added. “They can go reach people. We’re really excited about that group.”
Harbaugh delivered a signature line last week when he revealed a position group that has stood out to him this offseason.
“Our defensive line, [I] didn’t know where that was exactly when I first got here, but it’s a strength,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a strength for us, really excited about it.”
For as much as Harbaugh has preached beefing up the offensive trenches, it’s the same message on the defensive side of the ball, too.
“First thing we want to teach is technique and block destruction,” Chargers defensive line coach Mike Elston said of his group. “We have to be able to knock people back and play the run. I think we’ll do that very well.”